Formula 1 News

McLaren-Mercedes to get last garage in 2008 Bahrain Grand Prix 

The Reuters news agency has reported this morning that McLaren-Mercedes will be demoted to the end of the pitlane in the 2008 Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for next week. The organizers of Sakhir’s International circuit revealed that following FOM’s (Formula One Management) order, they had to arrange for McLaren the last set of garages, next to Force India.

“Originally it was planned that the team would take its place in the fifth set of garages, as it did for the Malaysian and Australian Grands Prix. However late notice arrived to announce that instead of garages 15-18, the Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes team would take up residence in garages 33-35. Traditionally the pit lane allocation is decided by the previous season’s points but McLaren scored no points in the constructors’ championship despite its drivers finishing second and third in the drivers’ title battle behind Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen,” the Bahrain Grand Prix organizers said on a press release.

Chief Operating Officer of the Bahrain International Circuit, Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, added: “We understand that it is in line with the rules and regulations of the sport for McLaren, which scored no points in the 2007 constructors’ championship, to take the final set of garages. However in Bahrain we do our utmost to ensure that fans of each team get to sit opposite their favourite team’s pit garages to see the action unfold. Sadly on this occasion we must apologise to McLaren fans and accept that this is force majeure.”