Wow, I'm actually stunned that this is happening again. Now I'm not so sure Mercedes or Hamilton will stick with McLaren after this (I wonder if Norbert is giving Ross a call - they could even come out with a new model, the Mercedes Brawn). I don't think Mercedes or any other sponsors will want to pony up the money again if the FIA whacks them with another insane fine. I wonder if this is Max's ultimate revenge. I am also stunned that they gave Ryan the boot, as I don't think he could have made that kind of decision on his own. Although it appears that if he is no longer an employee, then he would not have to go to the WMC himself (which musta cost Mclaren a whole heap of cash).
From Planet F1
McLaren face the threat of serious sanctions after being summoned to appear before an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on April 29.
The team are deemed to be in breach of the FIA's International Sporting Code relating to the recent 'lie-gate' saga surrounding world champion Lewis Hamilton's exclusion from the Australian Grand Prix.
It is the third time McLaren have been hauled before the WMSC in less than two years, with the last hearing resulting in the Woking-based team being handed a sporting record £49.2million fine following the 'spy-gate' furore.
McLaren are accused of being in specific breach of Article 151c of the sporting code, relating to 'any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally.'
In a FIA statement, McLaren are to answer charges that:
- On 29 March, 2009, told the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix that no instructions were given to Hamilton in car No. 1 to allow (Jarno) Trulli in car no. 9 to pass when both cars were behind the safety car, knowing this statement to be untrue.
- Procured its driver, Hamilton, the current world champion, to support and confirm this untrue statement to the stewards.
- Although knowing that as a direct result of its untrue statement to the stewards, another driver and a rival team had been unfairly penalised, made no attempt to rectify the situation either by contacting the FIA or otherwise.
- On 2 April, 2009, at a second hearing before the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix, (meeting in Malaysia) made no attempt to correct the untrue statement of 29 March but, on the contrary, continued to maintain the statement was true, despite being allowed to listen to a recording of the team instructing Hamilton to let Trulli past, and despite being given more than one opportunity to correct its false statement.
- On 2 April, 2009, at the second stewards' hearing, procured its driver Hamilton to continue to assert the truth of the false statement given to the stewards on 29 March, while knowing what he was saying to the stewards was not true.
In a statement issued by McLaren, and in a further attempt to try to appease the WMSC, the team have confirmed they have sacked Dave Ryan, their former sporting director.
Ryan was suspended on Friday after the storm surrounding the case blew up ahead of the weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.
The McLaren statement read: "McLaren acknowledge receipt of an invitation to appear at an FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on April 29, received this afternoon.
"We undertake to co-operate fully with all WMSC processes, and welcome the opportunity to work with the FIA in the best interests of Formula One.
"This afternoon McLaren and former sporting director, Dave Ryan, have formally parted company.
"As a result, he is no longer an employee of any of the constituent companies of the McLaren Group."
Hamilton, who was excluded from the classification of the race in Australia, is now in the clear as far as the FIA is concerned.
The WMSC will now focus on taking the team to task, with another hefty fine the logical outcome.
However, they have the power to either suspend McLaren from races, or even exclude them from the championship.
Welcome
Guests: 590
Hidden: 0
Users: 0
