Formula 1 News

FIA: McLaren gets suspended three-race ban 

Three-race ban to be applied if further facts emerge in the next 12 months

Following the extraordinary meeting in Paris between the FIA World Motor Sport Council and McLaren Mercedes CEO Martin Whitmarsh over the misleading information provided to the fia stewards after this season’s opener Grand Prix in Australia regarding the Hamilton-Trulli incident, the Council has decided to ‘suspend the application of the penalty it deems appropriate‘ – a three race ban – but has warned that such penalty will only be applied if further facts emerge in the next 12 months.

The statement issued by the FIA read:

At an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council held in Paris on 29 April 2009, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes admitted five charges of breaching article 151c of the International Sporting Code relating to events at the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix.

The following decision was taken:

“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 151c of the International Sporting Code.”