Formula 1 News

FIA begins to investigate McLaren-Mercedes 2008 car 

FIA inspections probing the legality of McLaren’s next Formula One car have now begun, according to a report. Britain’s Daily Mail described the activity at the team’s Woking headquarters over the last two days as a ‘raid’ carried out by a ‘high-powered squad of independent legal and technical experts.’

McLaren in September was excluded from the 2007 constructors’ championship and fined $100m for possessing Ferrari secrets. Part of the ruling was that the team’s 2008 car, the MP4-23, must be inspected by FIA officials to either clear its legitimacy or face further sanctions, possibly including a negative initial points score.

The newspaper reports that the FIA inspectors this week examined computers and design records, and took away boxes of data for further analysis. Their findings will be released at the World Motor Sport Council hearing in Monaco on Friday 7th December. A spokesman for F1′s governing body said: “We will not comment on the details of an ongoing investigation.” A McLaren spokeswoman added: “We have no comment other than that we will cooperate fully with the FIA.”

source: GMM