Formula One news
Ecclestone: McLaren could be excluded
30 May 2007 / Results / PhotosFormula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has said he completely supports the investigation on the McLaren Formula 1 team. The little Briton believes that a huge fine would not harm McLaren enough. "They could be excluded from the championship, or see points deducted," Ecclestone said.
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During Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix McLaren team boss Ron Dennis apparently asked Lewis Hamilton during his race not to take any big risks and to finish the race with Fernando Alonso in first and second position. Some believe Hamilton's first victory in F1 was stolen away from him but McLaren team boss Ron Dennis believes the team did nothing wrong. "Team strategy is what you bring to bear to win a Grand Prix. Team orders is what you bring to bear to manipulate a Grand Prix. And we do not, and have not, manipulated the Grand Prix," Ron Dennis said.
Ecclestone though believes that if the team handed out team orders to its drivers they should be punished hard. "I don't know what the team orders are or were. One thing is for sure: if there were team orders which relate to the position of the two drivers — if somebody is told to move over or hold their position — it is against all the sporting regulations we have," Ecclestone told Sportsmail. "If there were orders, they would be getting off lightly if they get the same sort of fine as Ferrari. They could be excluded from the championship or they could have points deducted."
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Ecclestone believes that would be the only punishment that would harm McLaren. "A fine for McLaren, with its money, would not have the same effect as docking points," he explained.
In the past two days the FIA has examined evidence, including radio exchanges between the McLaren drivers and the pit-wall. On Wednesday afternoon the FIA will report their findings.
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