Formula One news

McLaren apologises to FIA

The McLaren team has apologised to Formula One's governing body following the scenario which played out over the week between the season-opening Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix, after the team relayed false information to race stewards following an on-track incident at the first race.

Team principal Martin Whitmarsh has contacted the FIA in order to apologise for the events, in which team manager Dave Ryan - now dismissed - lied to stewards which resulted in the penalisation of a fellow competitor, as well as being prepared to collect relevant winnings for the third position taken as a result. Ryan also instructed World Champion Lewis Hamilton to not explain the truth, for which the driver later made a public apology at Sepang.

"We are cooperating with the FIA and I have written to Max, but obviously before the 29th I can't say anything about it." Whitmarsh refers to FIA president Max Mosley, and furthermore that no detailed comments are available on the matter ahead of Wednesday's hearing for the case in Paris. "It's a letter to them," Whitmarsh continued. "Certainly there's been no leak about it from us and I can't comment on it." The result of the hearing is likely to be a hefty fine for the team, with disqualification from the World Championship a distant possibility.

The case is the second serious situation involving McLaren in as many years, after the Ferrari 'spy gate' saga of 2007. With the latest dilemma dubbed 'lie gate', Whitmarsh is keen to ensure a sustainable working relationship between the team and FIA. "Well, I think anyone who has looked at the relationship between McLaren and the FIA over the last few years would have to conclude that it would be healthier for all of us to have a more positive, constructive relationship than perhaps we have had in the past," he concluded.

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