Formula 1 News

McLaren’s response over gearbox investigation 

McLaren are confident that the FIA will clear them of any wrongdoing over the use of a lightweight gearbox that had not been crash tested at the Hungarian Grand Prix; the team have issued earlier today a statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the affair. The statement said: “McLaren would like to emphasise that we have acted in entirely openly, in good faith and in complete compliance with the FIA rules and we are confident that the stewards will come to the same finding.

“On Thursday of the Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren voluntarily made the FIA aware that the team would be using a new reduced weight gearbox casing. Before qualifying the FIA asked McLaren to supply after the race weekend some documentation concerning the precise changes that had been made. This was supplied before the Turkish Grand Prix, but subsequently McLaren was advised by the FIA that in their opinion the revised gearbox needed to undergo a repeat crash test. As a result the team chose not to use the lightweight gearbox at the Turkish Grand Prix. On 30th August the McLaren lightweight gearbox passed both a push off test and an impact crash test without any problem under the supervision of the FIA. Consequently the team will use the lightweight gearbox at the Italian Grand Prix.”