Mar.9 (GMM) Ferrari spy Nigel Stepney says he is "delighted" with the FIA's recommendation to the motor racing industry that the Briton not be employed until mid next year.

He points out that the advice, revealed to the press after a meeting with the governing body last week, is effectively the retraction of an earlier threat to totally ban him from international motor sport.

In a statement provided by his lawyers, Stepney also slammed the FIA for taking so long before requesting his side of the story, and took issue with the Paris body's claim that he admitted to transferring Ferrari secrets to McLaren.

"They may want to do some due diligence themselves before simply accepting one side of the story," he said.

"Frankly, I should have known better. But it sure as hell wasn't the 780-page dossier the FIA saw and which I've just been shown for the first time by the Italian authorities," he added.