McLaren are off the hook. Well, sort of. The FIA has given the British team a suspended three-race ban for misleading stewards at the Australian Grand Prix.
The sentence means that McLaren won’t face a ban or a fine for their behaviour during the ‘Liegate’ affair, in which McLaren were accused of manipulating the evidence to allow Hamilton to gain third place over Jarno Trulli.
Instead, it’s no more than a slap on the wrists for the team and a warning not to be naughty in the future – the FIA says it will only apply the fine “if further facts emerge regarding the case or if, in the next 12 months, there is a further breach by the team of […] the International Sporting Code.”
The FIA commended the behaviour of McLaren in the aftermath of the affair, saying that team boss Martin Whitmarsh had been ‘open and honest’ with them. McLaren’s decision to sack long-serving sporting director Dave Ryan, along with Big Ron’s move away from F1 operations, can’t have hurt their cause either.
After the incident, Whitmarsh wrote to FIA boss Max Mosley to offer an ‘unreserved apology’ for the team’s behaviour. The team principle also arrived at the hearing today without an entourage of lawyers – a further indication of a softer, more humble approach from McLaren.
“They have demonstrated there is a complete culture change, that it’s all different to what it was,” said Mosley after the hearing. “In those circumstances it looks better to put the whole thing behind us, so unless there is something similar in the future, that is the end of the matter.”
So what do you think? A fair decision? And is this really a new, fluffy McLaren we’re seeing?
To be honest I just wonder how long it will be before the FIA pin something else on them and throw not just the book but the rest of the library at McLaren
but seriously, is it just FIA, or is McLaren is a “frequent-cheater”? Last stunt they pulled was about Ferrari’s car data… And now this?
But at least McLaren is being humble and not making such a big ruckus about it… Reminds me of my school days, being called to the principal’s office during high-school…
Quite a good result I’d say, wouldn’t have liked to see race bans for them… Just hope that’s the end of the matter and they can get back to racing
Humm Rob who the mind does wander ??
# rob said…
Wednesday April 29, 2009 at 2:00 pm Link to comment Report comment
McCheat got off very lightly. But, I’m sure that it won’t take long for the british outfit to cheat again. It is in their DNA. Therefore, rendering the sentence effective.
Sure if any other team had been in this situation there would have been no case at all. But guess the FIA has enough trouble going already and they were keen not to make Mercedes leave F1.
dey neva cheated and they are not off the hook. da FIA will find something to penalise them if they win and ferrari sont win. the FIA will ban KERS seems as ours is the best to help ferrari who have made a shit KERS
an organization of cheaters. i honestly think they lied to the FIA on purpose so that they can get banned and build a better racer. this team is an embaressment for the sport and for the united kingdom
Yes, right decision. OK, what they did was wrong, but since then, they’re behavior has been fantastic and very open. It would have been wrong to do anything more due to the changes they have made. Glad Lewis is still in it, come on lad, show Button how its done
You seriously think a company with such an heritage is cheating? Come on, this is serious bizz. The whole incident occured because they did not know what to do because they know the FIA is (for whatever reason) picking on them. It was Trulli who spun off during pace car situation, remember. The team was asking racecontrol what to do but were not awsnered because Mr.Whiting was bizzy with the Vettel/Kubica incident. The guy who lost his job was already at McLaren for ages, been working for greats like Senna and Prost. It is a big shame the way the FIA is treating this team.
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYY? This is just crap. Mclaren only did a small mistake, but that doesn’t mean that their aren’t aloud in 3 races. I think Hamiltons dream of a second championship is now down the drain. WASTED thanks to the FIA
what a joke by the FIA, they have set a new benchmark now, letting teams know its ok to cheat as long as you don’t do it again within 12 months of getting caught. there is bending the truth and breaking it and breaking it twice is what mclaren did. They deserve the race ban and not a suspended sentence that’s like telling a toddler to not paint on the walls again or they will be in trouble and that its ok the first time. I know the FIA are scared teams will leave and thatsthe only reason they have done this. mclaren made their bed and should lie in it rather than getting a helping hand out of it.
Ferrari Have pulled a hell of alot more tricks than Mclaren!
rehaan??? i think u got ur weirs crossed… r u mite jus b thick! they will not miss out on three races its a suspended three race ban c the longish word… (suspended) that means it wil not b inforced hope this helps ya dim! now it was a fair judgement they got a tellin off and hopefully thats the end of it now lets get back to good racin and fook the politics please… and 2 the dumpies that think mcl r being treated badly catch a grip of urselves u do the crim ul do the time mcl can only blame tem selves after all :L
shut up breett???? ya dump ass!!
They were guilty but deacent to put their hands up.
Instead of making whole mess out of it Whitmarsh had gone on his own and said sorry. Thats why they were treated as ANYONE would have in this situation.
I don’t know if FIA doesn’t like the team or was it all about Big Ron?
He was in F1 in ‘good’ old days. Maybe times had changed, but he wouldn’t?
We’ll see.
I think McLaren understood that they are the bigest (and the best of course) team in F1 and they do not need to play it on the edge any more.
Time will tell.
Roll on Barcelona.
To be fair ‘breezer’ Ferrari have pulled the odd dirty trick as well
I dont’t think they got off. It’s a 3 race ban suspended over 12 months as far as i read on the initial reports of the decision. Therefore, any wrong doing or dodgy incidents between now and the first few races of next season will be a problem, and that is a long time. In the past these bans have been suspended over 5 races or so. It’s only going to take some sort of Belgium, or Canada 2008 incident and the team will have both cars out for 3 races. Thats not going to make life easy for them at all. They might as well do something iffy next race, get the ban out of the way, and start next season without it hanging over their heads.
It’s all about damage control for McLaren and for the most part it worked. Too bad some loyal employees had to be thrown under the bus for it. I wonder how long McLaren are going to continue to try and pull off the “I went to get a drink of water when that happened” type of excuse. It’s just lame. As if we’re suppose to buy the idea that the bosses are victims when members of their team do underhanded things to benefit their teams chances in the championship. Yeah, right. They should have just man-up and admit that tried to pull a fast one straight off, save themselves some embarrassment.
They lied to the FIA and continued to lie after the FIA gave them a chance to come clean upon hearing the radio communications. McLaren chose to lie in light of that. It showed a huge lack of sportsmanship and disrespect to the govern power of Formula 1.
They got off very lucky. I think they should have been penalized, like stripping the teams results of the Australian GP since it was in that race they tried to benefit from and hang Toyota out to dry. It’s about setting a precedent and sending a message to other teams so they in turn don’t get it in their head that they too can get away with such behavior.
@Randy: Don’t be so naive. “You seriously think a company with such an heritage is cheating?” pull your head out, this is the second consecutive time they’ve been caught cheating. To think that McLaren is the same privateer team it was when Bruce founded the team is laughable, get real. Times change and teams change with it.
Bob72.
Do you watch F1 because you like people lie and get excited by it?
They do not need to worry if they don’t cheat.
IT IS NOT DIFFICULT.
Jeremy Cyle would be much better for you.
jst bcaus max mosly dsnt like em’!!!!
or adolf max hitler mosly!!! :L
well it’s all poo, the broadcast is ever so boring, in fact so boring it should win awards, the commentary is dumber than ever and I didn’t think that was actually possible, the drivers are dull, the cars are ugly, the teams cheat and when accused simply admit wich is portrayed as good conduct.. I mean wtf is going on ? And this is the only motorspost we get !!!!!! puhhhhhlease !
Well Celtic Tiger, I think i´ve seen and know more about McLaren than you think, it interest me because I think they build out a very impressive company. Must have made Mr.Mosley jealous, his March team came nowhere. And I think a team like that with Mercedes backing and great sponsors is not cheating on purpose. They might have made mistakes but if other teams would have made the same no attention would have been given.
Prick. Firstly, if your going to get all stressy and teenage girl, please construct your sentences properly. it think it should read ” Do you watch F1 because you like people WHO lie ” that reads much better. And secondly how decent of you to chose a user name that should reflect your personality so well.
Quote from Winnie (23)
“well it’s all poo, the broadcast is ever so boring, in fact so boring it should win awards, the commentary is dumber than ever and I didn’t think that was actually possible, the drivers are dull, the cars are ugly, the teams cheat and when accused simply admit wich is portrayed as good conduct.. I mean wtf is going on ? And this is the only motorspost we get !!!!!! puhhhhhlease !”
Why watch it then?
McClaren are cheating scum in addition to being media whores. But then again, they are british. Got off way to easily.
the FIA should just go away and make it less complicated and have a man with common sense making the rules
reply to the guy who thinks mclaren are the biggest team in the sport. hahahahahahahahhahahhahah ahahhahahahahahahahahhaha hahahhahahahahhahahahahha hahahahhaahaa You are dillusional! But then again, you are british. Go to any race outside ugly britain and the answer of who is the biggest and best team in F1 will be very clear.
Either way you look at it, a suspended 3 race ban if vastly more prefable than an instant 3 race band or points deduction. Ok, so they’re going to be as paranoid as hell for the next 12 months but if they’re as honest and candid as possible from now on, they should be fine.Er..no pun intended with the word ‘fine’ byw
*ban not ‘band’
good on the fia glad 2 c common sense prevailing 4 once where mclaren concerned
Way I see it McLaren is trying it’s hardest to be in the FIA goodbooks since Rons gone to start afresh. They’ve been trying so hard not to fall, they’ve tripped up looking at what the FIA are doing. Let’s not forget that there was no fine or penalty given to Renault when they had the same spygate info as McLaren about the Ferrari. Mc didn’t “get away” with anything, so let’s get back to the race shall we ?
Rob, learn to spell the name of the team you are trying to offend, that would be a start !
My god, just reading through these comments has made me wonder what people are on here for. It seems people just come on here to pick a fight! Quote from Jack ‘Go to any race outside ugly britain’, that is so childish it makes me wonder who is watching over him, waiting to tell him when his dinner is ready. Can people not just come on here to read the articles and make interesting, valid points?
Onto mine, which no doubt someone will have a go at over. I think this is a very reaction from the FIA in light of their recent judgements made against McLaren.
I’m glad they decided to put it behind them and let the teams get on with the racing, which I think has been very good so far. I’m a fan of the underdog coming up and doing well, shows that engineering hasn’t been replaced with huge budgets and corporate sponsorships. Anyone like the idea of Force India winning a race? Doubt it’ll happen but would be brilliant to see.
There we are, sorry if that has pissed anyone off, I’m sure it has but I just wanted to add my two cents.
*edit* ‘a very good reaction from the FIA’…just before anyone points it out and calls me a retard.
What FIA said is McLaren is not guilty, 12 months or not, which is crap. In 1997 Schumacher had his points erased for the crash with Villeneuve, nowadays penalties are not so common.
It’s all too much a business to get rid of any driver or team, no matter how much he cheated.
Tomberon, well said. should be able to make a comment without someone ripping into you for sharing an opinion.
I don’t want to anger Ron Dennis fans. But I think if Ron Dennis was handling this, then the outcome of this trial would be much different.
So good job to Mr. Whitemarsh
Ahhhh yes McLaren are off the hook
I think the humble thing helped a lot in their case, nice to see the FIA make a decent decision for once but still lets see how long they can actualy be nice for! But still come on Lewis and McLaren, show the world what ya made of and get back on top of this season, bring on Barcelona!
@Randy: Still sticking to your guns huh? OK, well if it wasn’t on purpose then why did they remain adamant that nothing was passed between team and driver when FIA had audio proof to the contrary? Even when FIA gave them the opportunity to come clean they still stuck with it. That seems fairly intentional to me.
They know that radio communication between team and driver is monitored, so how would you explain lying in the wake of such a fact as unintentional?
You can’t, not logically anyway, McLaren tried to play fast and lose in the confusion. Just sad that they did it at the expense of a team that has had nothing but an uphill climb since its conception.
If allowed every team would have started playing dirty. It would probably made some excited, but generally it doesn’t make sence.
FIA is a ref in F1. Not always right, because they fight fire with fire.
You can also see how desperate they are to keep on top of FOTA. So playing good cop, bad cop is just a part of routine.
Ron was overestimating possition and got slapped big time.
100m!
If FIA sticks to the plan, you could field three teams for it next year.
Beeing clever animal he is, whole ‘liegate’ was played in completly different way.
No one could afford half that money nowdays.
And no one could afford destroying image of the sport which just started to enjoy growing audience and recover from Schumacher era.
I am glad it is finished.
Bob.
Kiss my diffuser.
Getting rid of the ‘guilty’ party so quickly must have helped.
I hope they have learnt their lesson (18 months late).
Bob72 & Tomberon: If we ignore them, maybe they’ll go away.
The 3-race ban will only happen if they lie again or, according to the Telegraph “more evidence on this case rises”, which sounds like a cop-out on the part of the FIA.
Still, McLaren have lost their points from the Ozzy GP, they’ve had a finger wagging, so now they just have to keep their heads down and TRY MOTOR RACING for a change.
Their real problem this year is that they’re so scared of getting in trouble again after all the spying crap and the Belgian GP (which I still maintain to be bollocks) and so on, that they end up dropping the ball and getting in trouble anyway. They should just calm down and revert to being a race team that practices, qualifies, and tries to finish first, the end.
The WMSC/FIA were forced to make a lenient verdict because Maximmoral Mosexley’s and Bernie Ecclestupid’s balls trembled in fear when major sponsors threatened to pull out of F1 if McLaren were handed severe punishment!
Rob, are you one and the same as ‘Robson’, THE No. 1 Ferrari fanatic(or should I say LUNATIC) who keeps posting anti-McLaren, pro-Ferrari comments at Planet-f1.com no matter what the situation may be? I’d say, because your comments are just like his! If not I hope you post more intelligent, non-racist, and less biased comments next time!
Why is it racist to say britain is ugly. IT IS ugly. Paris hilton is a whore, david beckham is the most over rated football player ever, and mclaren are cheaters, right down to the floor cleaners. Also, british women are even uglier than britian, the weather sucks, the food is even worse, and the national football team is a joke. All true statements, not racist in any way.
This whole thing happened on the track and it should stay of the track. The FIA made the right desison to disqulify Lewis from the ossy grand prix but that should of been it.
i reckon martin whitmarsh will shake up mclaren and make them much betr! its good that ron dennis stepped coz he was becoming too comfortable in his position and now new ideas are needed
This suspended sentence seems a tad unfair given that BAR were banned for two races in 2005 after a dodgy fuel tank. Why is this any better, especially when they tried to drag another team down to their level?
@ No.48
To say Britain is ugly isn’t racist, you’re right there. Paris Hilton is American though, I’ll ignore the British women comment because you’re clearly an idiot, the weather does mostly suck and we actually have some of the best food in the world. Also there isn’t a national football team.
How about all the British folk in F1 leave and then see what you’re left with… Maybe you’d be better watching Nascar or something less British, no?
@ no. 51
My thought exactly! It seems that every time McLaren lie or cheat all they have to do is confess and ‘honestly’ repent their sins – and magically all is forgiven. Had this happened to one of the smaller privateer teams they would problably have been dealt a much deeper blow, but apparently the team with the Golden Boy Wonder (Hammy) can do almost whatever they like.
Britain is ugly??????
WHAT A FANTASTIC FORMULA ONE FACT.
jack, you do realise this is a MOTORSPORT site?
I think an Oprah or Montel site would suit you better.
To #46 – if that were true, then it just show that McLaren is really cheating, if the pressure is just because a bunch of sponsor would leave F1. (Nice name though
)
I am not an anti-McLaren fan, albeit I am one of its biggest supporter before. Unfortunately, McLaren is now doing a Ferrari thing – a star driver with a big ego (please the apology thing is the most unrealistic thing), an untouchable mindset & all. Which made me turn away from them. Hell Schumi will be proud that McLaren is copying his & Ferrari’s playbook.
I do hope they get their act together, but I do like that other teams start to eat out this McLaren/Ferrari dominance, a change of face & team is really nice to see in the telly.
dannyw4130, you are so full of shit! McClaren have been persecuted time and time again since Lewis Hamilton came into F1! The fact of the matter is, the FIA is pro Ferrari. Spygate 2007 – it was their designer Nigel Stepney that handed the documents to McClaren in the first place! Why weren’t they punished? Valencia last year – that near pit lane crash Massa nearly caused with Sutil. It would have been chaos up and down the pit lane if it happened! The mechanics and officials on the pit wall could all have been endangered! And Ferrari were only fined £50,000! That doesn’t even cover the cost of their catering for a GP weekend!
Guys u have to think they really cant do much when everyone is bending under the pressure of the economic crisis. If they cause a race ban then i think Vodafone will be VERY pissed off and if they fined them they would complain about how they have no money.
Wasnt all the FIA’s fault.
Im a Redbull fan BTW. VETTEL FTW
Prick! I notice that your posts were placed on here at 3.55pm #20 and 21, and 9.02 pm #42 and 43. Did it take you that long to write all of those long words down, or did you have to wait to sneak down to use the computer again after you had been put to bed.
Pay more attention in class. Schoolwork first, internet second.
There was the incident when Schumacher parked in the way so Alonso couldn’t do a quick qualifying lap, he said he never meant it, everyone knew he did and he continued to lie all the way till the end of the case. Their penalty was starting from the back of the grid… Puts this in perepective doesn’t it?
Forgetting all the conspiracy stuff for a minute, is Hamilton happy there any more or is he jumping ship at the end of the season? After all they really stitched him up. And what about Kovalinen, he’s not performing, does anyone think there will be 2 new drivers there for 2010? i reckon Hamilton will be loking elsewhere, maybe Red Bull or Toyota. BMW may be looking to replace Heidfeld as well.
They got off pretty lightly, you can be sure if Ron Dennis was still in charge they would have been much tougher, probably out for those 3 races. Hopefully it’s a sign of a bit more balance from the FIA in relation to Mclaren, the $100 million fine was really a culmination of annoyance!
Hamilton said in an interview he still loves the team so I really doubt he’s planning to leave… He said he was going to quit when this nonsense came about though but changed his mind.
Piquet’s job at Renault isn’t looking too kushty at the mo
When the “liar” incident happened on the Thursday after the race, the FIA were adamant that severe punishment would be handed out to McLaren. Part of me thought at the time, ok its a bit harsh. The other part thought that’ll team McLaren. And yes I am a Hamilton fan and I thought he was stupid to go along with it. But now that they have been only handed a 3 race suspended sentence leaves me with an angry opinion of the FIA. This is all to do with Ron Dennis. If McLaren were severly in breach of regulations, then they should still be punished. The fact the Dennis has stepped down and so they get off lightly, for me all the punishment in the past has been increased all down to the fact the FIA, Ecclestone and Mosely wanted Ron Dennis out!!
Nothing short of a witch-hunt if you ask me and it’s a farcical disgrace.
To #56: Yes it’s true that McLaren was proven to have lied to the FIA stewards! Nobody’s contesting that fact! The real controversy lies in the degree of punishment that should be handed for committing such an infraction which somehow may be influenced by threats from major sponsors of F1! (BTW, you probably have decoded my screen name! Ha! Ha! Ha!)
To #56: Yes it’s true that McLaren was proven to have lied to the FIA stewards! Nobody’s contesting that fact! The real controversy lies in the degree of punishment that should be handed for committing such an infraction which somehow may be influenced by threats from major sponsors of F1! (BTW, you probably have decoded my screen name! Ha! Ha! Ha!)
To Jack (#48): Maybe you don’t know or probably just ignorant of the real meaning of “racism” or “racist”!
Fluffy McLaren……dont like the sound of that Sam, if I’m honest. Although it would explain why they’ve made such a softy for a car this season.
On the bright side, this is the first bit of luck they’ve had this year so maybe…..just maybe things will start picking up for them. I hope they do becuase then we’d be in for a whopper of season (not that it is’nt brilliant enough already, but still……..)
£40 million budget for next year.
Does not include driver salaries, marketing, hospitality, fines, engine costs or ice creams!
..and its optional.
Those who opt out will have restrictions placed on the amount of testing, an engine rev limit & immovable wings.
How did this become about racism? That seems completely irrelevant to me.
—-
@ jack (48) Paris Hilton is ever so slightly AMERICAN, and I hate her no end. And if you think this country is ugly, you’ve never holidayed in the countryside.
Nothing you said is a fact – bar perhaps the weather – it is merely your opinion, one easy to disagree with, being surrounded by British women to make one feel funny every other day (they really don’t understand “business smart”. This is good), and always being happy and full up every Sunday after a roast dinner (yes, I have a Sunday roast, but I don’t have a monacle, a top hat, or the Queen’s phone number).
Where are you even from? Do I call you country wider than it is tall, like most of it’s inhabitants? Do I call it simple-minded and brash? Or do you actually live in Britain?
—-
Anyway, back to the relevant topic of FORMULA ONE, anyone who thinks McLaren is cheating should read comment 10.
@ 65-7: I’m sorry, but I don’t get your screen name!
Mikeado, I’m referring to comment #56 of ’somwerbtwnblungrn’.
Anyway Mikeado, I’m glad you’re curious about my screen name! Try finding it out! It’s a challenge, like deciphering the Da Vinci Code!
They got off too easy. They should have been given a 1 race ban with another 2 suspended for 12 months in case of further breaches. Now the teams get the message that it’s ok to intentionally lie to try to gain advantage as long as they only do it once every 12 months.
Mclaren shouldn’t have lied it was stupid of them. But I think the FIA are picking on them. Have the time they haven’t done anything wrong and they get penalties. The FIA are out to get Hamilton.
The people who keep saying “McCheat” are complete ignorant idiots.
It was not McLaren’s responsibility to do the FIA and stewards’ job in Australia for them. McLaren should have never been asked about what happened. The burden was on the stewards to prove their case, not McLaren, and punishing McLaren for a “lie” is complete grade school garbage. If any of you were in McLaren’s position, you would have tried to cover your a$$es too, and you know that’s true.
What happened in Oz went something like this:
-The stewards were unsure about what happened so they asked McLaren for a statement to clarify the issue.
-McLaren smartly tried to cover their a$$es
-The stewards then reviewed the evidence further and found that McLaren “lied.”
What should have happened was:
-The stewards review all evidence for themselves and do their job. Review the radio transmissions, come to a conclusion, and don’t involve a team who is understandably trying to watch out for their best interests.
This whole situation stinks of entrapment. Why ask McLaren what happened in the first place if further evidence was going to come to light later on? Why not just wait and figure things out for themselves and not put McLaren in the position to try to take the heat off of themselves? Radio transmissions were there to be reviewed. Objective evidence. So why even involve testimony from McLaren?
It’s like questioning a child for misconduct when you already know they’re guilty just to see if they’ll tell the truth. Just plain silly. Entrapment, pure and simple.
Oh, but when Ferrari pulls something the FIA just tells them to stop and that’s that. (Remember when Ferrari were first employing bridge wings which, shown by onboard camera footage, were clearly moving?) How is that not a lie? Ferrari claimed they were playing by the rules (i.e. not using movable aero devices), but clear evidence showed that they were. But no fines or fuss was made of that case.
The radio transmissions (the truth of the matter was there to be reviewed) but the FIA chose to bait McLaren into a lie. And ANY team would have done the same as McLaren considering the situation. They were led to believe that the radio transmissions were inconclusive. Under the circumstances, any team would have done the same. Any team would have acted in such a way as to not incriminate themselves.
In any sort of court situation it is the burden of the prosecution to prove their case. Any defendent should never be expected to prove themselve guilty. That’s just common sense.
And it was Trulli’s stupid fault in the first place for not being able to drive around at 60 mph behind the safety car without having an off. That sort of incompetence brings the sport into “disrepute” far more than what McLaren did.
ok, end of rant.
Well said!
The stupid part is McLaren did not need to lie:
If they had told the truth (“We mistakenly gave Trulli his position back”) they would have been reinstated in 3rd place anyway.
And Marcus (Who is not ignorant):
“McLaren smartly tried to cover their a$$es” ?!?!
Not very smart to continue a lie when the whole of F1 have access to the truth is it?
Haven’t been in a criminal court before have you Marcus? Take it from me the accused always has to prove themselves innocent not the other way around. That burden of proof crap is just for people that have thier heads in the clouds & want to think they live in an ideal society. It’s not the way the real world works. I personally have pleaded guilty to crimes I am actually innocent of because I would serve less time in gaol than if I pled not guilty & stayed on remand.
Why were Mclaren asked what had happened – To try & give the fans the race result at the earliest possible chance. To try & keep the fans happy. Why did Mclaren lie – to try & gain a position & some desperatly needed points. Nothing so noble as covering thier arses. By the way if I were calling the shots I would have told the FIA the truth. If you have nothing to lose, why lie? And that’s from a criminal.
To Titi#65-67 (such a long name when being type)
Ok maybe call me stupid or something, you are implying that the various sponsor are the one who threatened FIA to give the stiff penalty to McLaren(?!?!?!)
Though in principle that is nothing new in professional sporting, as there have been precedent in other sports(Micheal Phelps incident comes into mind), the problem with McLaren is that they “DELIBERATELY LIED”, they were like high school kids who were caught cheating, & unfortunately in the real world, the consequence of ones actions, is not controlled by one individual or group only. I would not go to the point of calling them McLiars (a very lame wording IMO), but in an event that has at least twenty sponsor, who pay for their product to be displayed on the idea of “superior quality” of F1, they have tarnished this ideal. McLaren actually got a better deal because other teams (yes I believe LOL – except Ferrari – for now)have actually suffered far worse penalty, & as posted earlier BAR have the same “I was caught cheating” incident before. They were fined heavily for that. Those who are defending McLaren are ignoring the these facts (aside that we are having a dsicussion in a british website), for many it is unfair.
) here in an adult world, were consequences can be &/or are worse than what we expected. Again I am a McLaren fan, but I think their action is wrong – fundamentally showing their principle & speak poorly of their team’s character, if they ever thought that they can escape from it. Plus the mea culpa of Hamilton, I am sorry but that is a piece of sh#@ if you believe in it.
We are all adults (I think
Again peace & looking forward for the Spanish GP
TopGear rules (some say The Stig could have ironed out this problem sooner…)
Check this out!
To Marcus who posted comment number 76. All I can say is I don’t think I’ve heard truer words on this blog yet. That to me just explains it all and I totally agree. The FIA didn’t need to ask McLaren about the incident they could’ve just worked it out for them selves instead of cleverly backing McLaren into a corner, because they have all the radio transmissions between the team and the driver anyways.
And it was obvious that McLaren were going to try and cover it up because what do you expect them to do when they have the FIA out to get them. This hole incident soon revolved around McLaren withholding evidence and apparently ‘lying’ to race stewards. I bet next years budget cap that along the line the FIA conveniently forgot about the safety car incident and focused on tearing away at McLaren for telling a ‘lie’. That suspended 3 race ban was enforced because McLaren withheld evidence not actually because of what happened in the race.
And what have Lewis and McLaren lost during this scandal?
Well for a start they have lost Ron Dennis who was the very man that got McLaren into the motor sport scene and indeed gave us our current world champion. Over 40 years of dedication and hard work and to think he had to stand down for no reason. Second of all Lewis and McLaren have lost their integrity because they are made out to be liars and thirdly they have probably lost well earned fans as well and the list goes on. So McLaren got off lightly in terms of punishment but not very lightly in terms of what they have lost because of what happened, all over McLaren have suffered a blow and for a reason that was basically forced upon them.
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton forever and a day.
Amen.
Re comment #80: You got it all mixed up or the other way around! What I am trying to point out is about probability of McLaren’s major sponsors threat to pull out of F1 if the WMSC/FIA make a decision in handing out a very harsh penalty! There was an earlier news item saying that certain McLaren sponsors are reportedly talking with FIA officials regarding the coming WMSC meeting with McLaren. Seemed likely that they are exerting pressure on the WMSC/FIA to be more lenient on McLaren.
To comment #78 (Pedant): Your comment implies that McLaren do not really know how to make a lie that’s why they made this blunder?
I think the main problem was the stewards’ incompetence in making a quick and final decision when asked by a team regarding controversial situations that need to be resolved on-the-spot such as that encountered by McLaren which eventually forced them commit that blunder! In short, IT’S ALL THE INCOMPETENT RACE STEWARDS’ FAULT!
#84: CORRECT
1.They did not need to lie;
2.They lied when we all knew the truth.
#85: CORRECT
1.The Stewards did not answer McLaren during the race;
2.The Stewards made a decision without all the facts.
INCOMPETENCE FROM BOTH PARTIES
Right Pedant, a blunder was committed because of a previous blunder by someone else. The trouble is, why penalise one party and not also the other party who caused it! Injustice!
Ferrari cursed by God.
Come on! Pathetic! all they tried to do was blag 2 points and now theres spotty teenagers from grimsby Town on topgear.com arguing over who goes to bed the latest! lol seriously, i doubt any of you are over 13, and I think that its fair enough, they tried a little mischief and got kicked in the balls for it! In football, if someone gets sent off for a handball, you dont hear them moaning on and on and on weeks after lol but i suppose when you get F1 you get the dillousioned supporters, as with any sport XD
Firstly we are not ‘arguing’, we are ‘discussing’ the given topic. Secondly I don’t know about everyone else in here but I’m certainly not 13 or any age below that. Furthermore I don’t have a bed time to argue about again I’m speaking for my self here, Grimsby Town, correct me if I’m wrong, is not a real place, football has no relevance on this blog so please don’t use it as an example and honestly JC 94 do u have any idea about what actually happened in Australia or are u here just to rant? When you post something on a blog next time don’t do it to insult
Just become part of the discussion thats taking place before u swiftly get put in it by someone who actually knows what he/she is talking about.
I really hope that Lewis won’t quit McLaren. He rocks!
I hate Mc Laren!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mclaren r rubbish and lewis is a show off