FIA asks for Whitmarsh interview

[Scott]

Looks like they won't need Ryan to show up - they've moved their sights on to Whitmarsh. 

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_5186516,00.html

[John S]

Well someones got to take the rap and if Ryan is not attending and Lewis has a "get out of gaol free card" from max that only leaves Martin.

[Jericoke]

What CONTINUES to blow my mind about this whole thing is that I STILL don't know what was expected of Hamilton and Trulli in this situation.

And it sounds like they're asking for a Tape of Whitmarsh saying the same thing.

[Scott]

What was expected is this:

Trulli goes off track.  Hamilton has no choice but to pass while following safety car.  Trulli rejoins behind Hamilton and both drivers should hold position while their teams get on the horn to race control to ask what to do.  If it takes race control beyond the end of the race to sort it out (likely), then the stewards would decide final placings while the throngs wait for the podium ceremony.  Expectedly, they would side with Toyota and put Trulli back in 3rd and demote Hamilton back to 4th (as it should be).  End of story, no problem, no foul.

But no, daft as they are at Mclaren, someone decides that they should think for the FIA and have Hamilton fall back and let Trulli pass without waiting for instruction.  Then at the end of the race, since apparently the stewards had no idea anything happened on track, someone at Mclaren (Dave Ryan?  Whitmarsh?  Dennis?  Anthony?) decides that they should try to recoup that point and pretend nothing happened on their public radio system.  They decide that even though Hamilton had given a post race comment about letting Trulli pass, they should instruct him to forget that happened and lie to the Stewards.  Then Whitmarsh decides he should not ask any questions and just come out entirely supporting his staff.  End of story, huge problem, major foul.   

[Jericoke]

Thanks Scotty!

Now, do the drivers know this?

[Monty]

I'm not sure who was giving instructions to Lewis in the car (Whitmarsh?? It wasn't Dave Ryan). Anyway, Lewis knew full well that he should not let Trulli re-pass. He actually questioned the decision and reported that Trulli had gone completly off track (therefore deservedly losing the place). But the 'voice' from the pit wall was quite patronising telling Lewis to calm down and clearly said; "we are on the phone to Charlie and we will do this by the book".
Good drivers usually know most of the rules. Hamilton obviously knew exactly what he had to do under the circumstances. Unfortunately he was given duff instructions from the pits. Perhaps the pits got the wrong instructions from Charlie Whiting or perhaps they thought it was the least contentious decision. We will probably never know.

[Scott]

Thanks Scotty!

Now, do the drivers know this?

The drivers probably do, but someone, or more than just one on the Mclaren pit wall obviously do not.

[SennaMan]

hey guys and gals, the FIA hearing is not about who did what during the race but what was said POST RACE

that is why the FIA is asking for the martin WHITMARSH interview tape and why this thing is called LIARGATE and not WHODIDWHATAGATE

howevere, I feel they will harshly penalise McLAREN in typical FIA fashion

perhaps:

McLAREN will say we quit F1 forthwith;

LH will be suspended from all races in 2009 and offered redemption if he drives for FORCE INDIA for a fee of $USD10,000 a race

[then will we all see how really good a driver he is?]

max and bernie will throw a celebratory bash at MONACO with compulsory attendance by all teams and divers

and someone unknown will fund another sex-sting operation that nets not only max but bernie and charlie Whiting - oh goody goody and rubber duckies, what, what chasps

and after all that hopefully we can concentrate on the racing?

[Scott]

We were referring to the original issue, which was what happened on track, leading to the Stewards investigation, which led to the formal FIA hearing on what took place at the Stewards investigation.