Formula One news

McLaren slams 'wholly unnecessary' magistrate move

McLaren responded this morning to moves from Italian magistrates from Modena acting on a complaint from Ferrari to issue notifications to senior McLaren officials that they were being investigated in relation to the sky scandal. The action is completely separate to anything being undertaken by the FIA.

McLaren has responded suggesting the move was just yet another attempt by Ferrari to distract and destabilise the team ahead of yesterday's qualifying session.

A statement issued by McLaren this morning read, "McLaren did receive some contact from the Italian authorities yesterday but was not charged with anything. We strongly suspect that the nature and timing of this wholly unnecessary contact, just before the start of qualifying, was to disrupt our preparation for this important session and Thursday's World Motor Sport Council hearing."

It added, "McLaren is completely confident that were any proceedings of this type ever  to be brought we would be completely exonerated."

Ferrari trails McLaren in both championships and is well off the silver cars' pace in qualifying.

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