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FIA
gives McLaren a suspended sentence.
At the FIA
World Motor Sport Council in Paris yesterday it was decided that McLaren be
handed a suspended sentence for lying to the stewards about an incident
involving Mclaren Driver Lewis Hamilton and Toyota driver Yarno Trulli. If
McLaren breech the same rule within the next 12 months they will be handed a
three race penalty. Here is the release from McLaren:
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McLaren
attends FIA World Motor Sport Council hearing
This
morning the FIA World Motor Sport Council met in
Paris
to discuss a number of subjects including issues related to events that took
place at the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix.
The
FIA World Motor Sport Council members heard from Martin Whitmarsh (Team
Principal) and have issued the following statement:
"Having
regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren Team Principal, Mr Martin
Whitmarsh, addressed the WMSC, and the change in culture which he made clear has
taken place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of
the penalty it deems appropriate. The penalty is a suspension of the team from
three races of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. This will only be applied
if further facts emerge regarding the case or if, in the next 12 months, there
is a further breach by the team of Article 151c of the International Sporting
Code."
McLaren
accepts the FIA World Motor Sport Council's decision and wishes to thank the FIA
World Motor Sport Council members for the very fair hearing they have given us
this morning.
We
now look forward with enthusiasm to continuing our efforts to develop a closer
and more co-operative relationship between ourselves and the FIA.
We
will also continue to focus our efforts on closing the performance gap that
exists between our car and the fastest cars.
Following
Lewis Hamilton's encouraging fourth place in
Bahrain
last Sunday, we are now optimistic that we will be able to play an increasingly
competitive part in what is fast developing into a very exciting season of
Formula 1 motor racing.
Martin
Whitmarsh (Team Principal) said:
"I
would like to thank the FIA World Motor Sport Council members for affording me
the opportunity to answer their questions this morning. We are aware that we
made serious mistakes in
Australia
and
Malaysia
, and I was therefore very glad to be able to apologise for those mistakes once
again. I was also pleased to be able to assure the FIA World Motor Sport Council
members that we had taken appropriate action with a view to ensuring that such
mistakes do not occur again."
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