RIP Nigel Stepney

[Londoner]

Sad news just being reported on Twitter is that Nigel Stepney, the mechanic involved in the Spygate mess several years ago, has been killed in a road accident today. Whilst he was mostly remembered for his role in Spygate, he was also an engineer for Senna and Schumi.

RIP Nigel

[pasta_maldonado]

This was a shock... Autosport are reporting it here.

A tragic accident. RIP Nigel.

[CoopsII]

Wow, what a shock. Sad times, indeed. Was he affiliated to any team at the moment?

[shinji]

Jaysus that's really sad, RIP.

[W12]

Absolutely terrible news. Rest in peace.

[dr-baker]

RIP. I've just read his obituary on Autosport - apparently he was one of the Ferrari mechanics hit by Albereto's tyre at Imola 1994 20 years and 1 day ago. A controversial character but a sad end to his life nonetheless.

[go_Rubens]

This is very sad. The fact that his last full day of life was the 20th anniversary of the Imola weekend where he was injured by a pit incident makes it seem very eerie.

He was a controversial figure, being one of the main guys in the Crashgate saga. However, any death is sad, and this is no different.

RIP Nigel Stepney.

[CoopsII]

It doesnt sound like a simple accident to me, based on the police statement. It appears he just got out of his van, of which theres no mention of it being broken down, and walked in front of a lorry moving at high speed.

[AdrianSutil]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but local murmurings are reporting its a suicide. I live in Ashford and the section between junction 9 and 10 (the two Ashford junctions, separated by about two miles) are notorious for suicides. There's two bridges overlooking the motorway which sees a handful of suicides each month and also several easily-accessible walkways. Plus, this happened at around half 1 in the morning so it seems a bit strange to be unaware of traffic at that time of night. I really hope it's not true, but it seems unlikely.

RIP Nigel.

[CoopsII]

You have to wonder if its connected to the events of Imola and his own fall from grace, its quite the coincidence. Shame.

[mario]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but local murmurings are reporting its a suicide. I live in Ashford and the section between junction 9 and 10 (the two Ashford junctions, separated by about two miles) are notorious for suicides. There's two bridges overlooking the motorway which sees a handful of suicides each month and also several easily-accessible walkways. Plus, this happened at around half 1 in the morning so it seems a bit strange to be unaware of traffic at that time of night. I really hope it's not true, but it seems unlikely.

RIP Nigel.

I would rather hope that is not the case, but I can see why there would be those who wonder about what has happened given the slightly unusual circumstances. It's also a real shame that, despite the success he has had earlier and later in his career, that nevertheless the reports are still coloured by the "Spygate" affair that has ever since been weighing him down.

[takagi_for_the_win]

That's really sad to hear, RIP. Did he leave anyone behind?

[Jocke1]

That's really sad to hear, RIP. Did he leave anyone behind?

He was 56 years-old and leaves his loving partner and daughter, Ash and Sabine Stepney.

[roblo97]

This is terrible news to hear. RIP Nigel.

[pher38]

RIP Nigel.

It's fair to say that both Nigel Stepney and Mike Coughlan were made into the 'scapegoats' in the whole 'spygate' affair, in an extremely competitive sport where espionage was and possibly still is fairly common.

The whole saga must have left a deep personal trauma for both him and his family. Does this raise questions at all about how people are treated in the political games of F1?

[watka]

Very nasty news. RIP Nigel and my thoughts are with his family.

[tristan1117]

Rest in peace Nigel.