McLaren summoned by FIA's WMSC

[Rob P]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74346

[Nick M]

"Oh f*ck...." I think just about sums it up

Best they be buying some industrial sized tubs of Vaseline, coz this is gonna hurt....

[Alfie Noakes]

Just read it myself.

Par for the course I suppose.

It will be interesting to see if they make a meal of it.

I think it's all part of this FOTA /FOM / FIA power struggle.

Funny how they bring out the old "Bringing the Sport into Disrepute" chestnut out for this but left it locked in the cupboard for MM's spanking party.

[mattikake]

The FIA claims that McLaren may have broken the regulations on five counts, that:

• on 29 March, 2009, told the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix that no instructions were given to Hamilton in Car No. 1 to allow Trulli in Car no. 9 to pass when both cars were behind the safety car, knowing this statement to be untrue;

• procured its driver Hamilton the current World Champion, to support and confirm this untrue statement to the stewards;

• although knowing that as a direct result of its untrue statement to the stewards, another driver and a rival team had been unfairly penalised, made no attempt to rectify the situation either by contacting the FIA or otherwise;

• on 2 April, 2009, at a second hearing before the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix, (meeting in Malaysia) made no attempt to correct the untrue statement of 29 March but, on the contrary, continued to maintain that the statement was true, despite being allowed to listen to a recording of the team instructing Hamilton to let Trulli past and despite being given more than one opportunity to correct its false statement;

• on 2 April, 2009, at the second stewards' hearing, procured its driver Hamilton to continue to assert the truth of the false statement given to the stewards on 29 March, while knowing that what he was saying to the stewards was not true.

My take:

The first two points are surely Dave Ryan and Hamliton acting on their own and not under orders from McLaren in an official capacity?

The last 3 points are over confusion over what was exactly said by Hamilton? But either way could be used to fk Mclaren over.

[AlpineWhite]

I doubt McLaren will escape without a severe penalty.

[skwdenyer]

Who are the members of the WMSC? Is there a list available?

[paranha]

When will the FIA release the Recordings of the stewards meeting, at this moment ALL is heresay.

[paranha]

When will the recordings of the stewards investigation be released so we can listen to the "FACTS"

[flemke]

skwdenyer said:

Who are the members of the WMSC? Is there a list available?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Motor_Sport_Council

[BBS-LM]

Kiss good bye to another $100M

[jamieboy]

mattikake said:

The first two points are surely Dave Ryan and Hamliton acting on their own and not under orders from McLaren in an official capacity?

Does that stack up, though? I said on another thread - surely when the Sporting Director of a team is called to give an account to the stewards, to all intents and purposes he is the team?

I've said it before, but I hope McLaren don't get too harsh a punishment.

[Plug550]

My money's on 6 of the best in the headmasters office , followed by a 3 race ban, exclusion from this years constructors championship, and a generous donation to a charity of the headmasters choice. Will also cause Martin Whitmarsh to tender his resignation, I wouldn't wonder.

Unfortunately, the stewards led McLaren into a bear trap with this one, and they've walked straight into it whilst still on probation.

[DSM2]

Alfie Noakes said:

Just read it myself.



Funny how they bring out the old "Bringing the Sport into Disrepute" chestnut out for this but left it locked in the cupboard for MM's spanking party.

Fair point IMO.

I just cannot believe that they continued to deny the lie after beng played the radio recording..................

[Guest]

F1 News: Max Mosley indicates Bernie Ecclestone lied to FIA World Council

The actions of the FIA and Formula One Management are expected to be brought under public scrutiny after Max Mosley indicated that Bernie Ecclestone misled the World Motorsport Council, in Paris on 17 March 2009, following a proposal to award the Formula One drivers’ championship to the driver who has won the most races during the season.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, FIA president Max Mosley admitted he had been concerned about the validity of the rule change, which required the approval of all teams:

“Bernie told me that he talked to all the teams and everybody was happy,” Mosley said.

“I was led to believe they all agreed. The World Council was under the impression that they had all agreed.”

The implication that Bernie Ecclestone lied to the FIA World Motorsport Council could see the CEO of Formula One Management face disciplinary charges after attempting to obfuscate the lack of support from the Formula One Teams Association.

Bernie Ecclestone has failed to issue a public apology and could be called before the FIA World Motorsport Council to officially account for his actions - but that this is unlikely to be scheduled before the Bahrain Grand Prix, the fourth race of the season, later this month.

Max Mosley, the FIA President, in Portugal for a round of the World Rally championship, said a formal report on Bernie's 'lie-gate' is yet to be forwarded to the World Council.

"If there is (a report), I will almost certainly be one of the people there to decide what happens. Therefore it would be completely wrong for me to discuss the rights and wrongs of the situation," he said.

There is no limit to the action the FIA could take if it deemed it serious enough.

Max Mosley is reportedly keen for the FIA to play a significant role in Formula One during 2009 - a year when the he faces the prospect of a serious challenge to his role as FIA President.

In December 2008, Mosley said that he was still intending to stand down when his term runs out in October 2009, but will take the final decision in June:

"When a lot of people say 'you should stay', it would be sort of churlish not to," Mosley said. "At the moment they are saying that and it's very flattering. I'm conscious that a decision has to be made, probably at the meeting of the FIA World Council at the end of June."

When asked about the qualities required of a prospective FIA President, Mosley said: "A great deal of patience and ideally an ability to understand quickly a great variety of technical and legal issues. I would advise a potential successor to think very carefully before standing for election."

While Max Mosley claims to have support to continue as FIA President, there are expected to be six or seven alternative candidates, with rumours that Martin Bell may stand as an independent candidate.

Martin Bell ousted Conservative MP, Neil Hamilton, in the 1997 UK General Election after Hamilton was embroiled in various "sleaze" allegations.

Telegraph-article-1

Telegraph-article-2

FIA-press-release

[flemke]

mattikake said:

The FIA claims that McLaren may have broken the regulations on five counts, that:

• on 29 March, 2009, told the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix that no instructions were given to Hamilton in Car No. 1 to allow Trulli in Car no. 9 to pass when both cars were behind the safety car, knowing this statement to be untrue;

• procured its driver Hamilton the current World Champion, to support and confirm this untrue statement to the stewards;

• although knowing that as a direct result of its untrue statement to the stewards, another driver and a rival team had been unfairly penalised, made no attempt to rectify the situation either by contacting the FIA or otherwise;

• on 2 April, 2009, at a second hearing before the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix, (meeting in Malaysia) made no attempt to correct the untrue statement of 29 March but, on the contrary, continued to maintain that the statement was true, despite being allowed to listen to a recording of the team instructing Hamilton to let Trulli past and despite being given more than one opportunity to correct its false statement;

• on 2 April, 2009, at the second stewards' hearing, procured its driver Hamilton to continue to assert the truth of the false statement given to the stewards on 29 March, while knowing that what he was saying to the stewards was not true.

My take:

The first two points are surely Dave Ryan and Hamliton acting on their own and not under orders from McLaren in an official capacity?

The last 3 points are over confusion over what was exactly said by Hamilton? But either way could be used to fk Mclaren over.

This charge sheet has got, "With love, Max", all over it.
It makes the most extreme possible allegations, and issues them to the public. Thus the FIA starts out as prosecutor, rather than as judge - yet as regulator, its obligation is not to be a prosecutor, it is to be a judge.
It makes five separate charges, even though only two offences could have taken place: that McLaren employees misled the stewards in Australia, and that they reiterated their misleading position in Malaysia.
There is no mention of "Dave Ryan", only of "McLaren", insinuating that any offence was a systemic team offence not only technically, but in substance. Another Mosley tactic, as perfected during Stepneygate.

Mosley's got the chance both to get another manufacturer out of the sport and to damage Ron Dennis. He must be excited beyond belief. The Chelsea ladies are probably bracing themselves for an intense afternoon.

[kevin ritson]

flemke said:

Mosley's got the chance both to get another manufacturer out of the sport

Albeit one that's supplying a third of the field with engines. Would even he top Dave Ryan by going this far out on a limb just to score a point?

[E30M3SE]

kevin ritson said:

flemke said:

Mosley's got the chance both to get another manufacturer out of the sport

Albeit one that's supplying a third of the field with engines. Would even he top Dave Ryan by going this far out on a limb just to score a point?

..enter stage right single engine supplier to the whole field.

[nc107]

This will boil down to charges of either:

1.McClaren as a team lying
2.McClaren not being in control of one of their key employees

Interesting if it is the latter, as I can think of another team that could be accussed of that..........

[pies]

Ryan to part company with MC

[flemke]

E30M3SE said:

kevin ritson said:

flemke said:

Mosley's got the chance both to get another manufacturer out of the sport

Albeit one that's supplying a third of the field with engines. Would even he top Dave Ryan by going this far out on a limb just to score a point?

..enter stage right single engine supplier to the whole field.

Si, senor.
Cosworth, are you ready?