Formula One news
The moment of truth
29 April 2009McLaren will discover the outcome of 'liegate' today when team principal Martin Whitmarsh goes before the FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) at the governing body's headquarters in Paris. The hearing will see the conclusion of the ongoing case which began at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix a month ago.
Whitmarsh has made the decision to face the FIA alone without the backing of team members or legal supervisors, and will learn of team's punishment, if any. At present a large fine seems likely, with exclusion from the World Championship less so, although F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has suggested that the possibility remains.
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| Whitmarsh faces the press at Sepang in early April |
The scenario began in the closing stages of the Australian Grand Prix, in which Toyota's Jarno Trulli left the track during the second and final safety car period of the race. Hamilton, lying fourth and directly behind the Italian, correctly passed and took the position as the Toyota rejoined across the grass.
Moments later, however, the McLaren team - which lost a victory with Hamilton after crossing a chicane in last year's Belgian Grand Prix - instructed their driver to yield the position, still under safety car conditions, when questioned for advice by the World Champion via team radio.
With Hamilton instructed to yield the position the Englishman duly did so, before then being told to hold position. Already back to fourth, Hamilton crossed the finish line - still under safety car conditions - behind Trulli. After climbing from the car, the World Champion told America's Speed TV that the team had asked him to allow Trulli to retake his position.
An FIA inquiry after the race saw Trulli dropped out of the points with a 25-second penalty for passing under the safety car, as Hamilton and team manager Dave Ryan explained to race stewards that the McLaren did not slow. Trulli, on the other hand, said how the silver arrow in front of him did slow, as if with a technical problem.
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| Anthony Hamilton watches on at Sepang with press officers Matt Bishop and Steve Cooper |
The case was reopened before the Malaysian Grand Prix a week later, as Ryan and Hamilton maintained their versions of events when Australia's stewards attended Sepang. Now with access to the team radio communication, which clearly proves Hamilton was instructed to slow, the stewards promptly disqualified the car from the race as well as lifting Trulli's penalty.
Dave Ryan, with McLaren since the early 1970's, was suspended before being fully dismissed from the outfit by team principal Martin Whitmarsh as Hamilton issued an apology to the media, claiming that he has been misdirected by his team.
With Whitmarsh having also apologised continuously since the happening, all that now remains is for the FIA to hand the team with a final outcome. Stay tuned to GPUpdate.net during the day to learn of McLaren's fate.
Click here to go to GPUpdate TV and view the story in video, which includes the radio communication between Hamilton and his team during the first race.
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