Formula One news

Only Whitmarsh to talk with FIA

McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh has announced that he is to attend Wednesday's FIA hearing in Paris solo, minus the backing of lawyers, team members or driver Lewis Hamilton. The team principal will learn of McLaren's fate following the 'liegate' scandal which begun when the team presented race stewards with false information.

'Liegate' kicked off at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix when team manager Dave Ryan presented FIA-appointed race stewards with incorrect information, leading to the penalisation of Jarno Trulli's Toyota. When learning of the fake story following further investigation, the FIA handed Toyota third position back whilst disqualifying Hamilton from the Grand Prix. Since the incident, Hamilton - who also lied, under instruction from his team manager - has given a full public apology whereas Ryan, initially suspended, was dismissed from the team by Whitmarsh after spending over 35 years with McLaren.

Today's news, however, confirmed that only Whitmarsh will go before the governing body's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris, after the FIA admitted that - following Hamilton's apologies - any sanctions will be directed towards the team as opposed to the driver.

A hefty fine seems the most likely outcome, with exclusion from the World Championship remaining an unlikely, albeit possible, option. The only man accompanying Whitmarsh on Wednesday will be Timothy Murnane, lawyer to the team, but as an observer only. Since the occurrence in Melbourne, which was followed up by a repetition of the fakery by Ryan at Sepang, Whitmarsh has openly apologised and admitted that the retaining of his own job rests solely with decisions of the team's shareholders.

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