This is an update to:
FIA To Meet Today Regarding McLaren
McLaren have escaped with a suspended three-race ban for misleading race stewards at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh faced the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Wednesday to hear the charge brought against his team.
And his pro-active approach in the run-up to the hearing appears to have paid off as the WMSC could have handed down much heavier sanctions including a ban and/or points deductions.
However, the WMSC appear to have taken into account a number of mitigating circumstances after McLaren pleaded guilty on all five counts of breaching the International Sporting Code. SkySports
Following the hearing a WMSC statement read: “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.
“That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races of the FIA Formula One 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 151 c of the International Sporting Code.
As expected, reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton has avoided any further punishment after his disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix. The Press Association
Arriving in a silver Mercedes at the International Automobile Federation (FIA)‘s imposing Place de la Concorde headquarters shortly before 9.30am in Paris, Whitmarsh delivered a statement of apology and left after less than an hour inside.
“We’ve made mistakes, we’ve apologised to the FIA and the public,” he said. “We await the decision.”
Asked whether this was the end of the affair, the Briton replied: “I very much hope so.
“I hope that this will draw a line and we can carry on racing.”
The 24-year-old Hamilton did not attend the hearing, with Whitmarsh the team’s only representative in front of the council. Telegraph.co.uk
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