Classic British Flight Sim

http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=45519

McLaren will be hauled before the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council on April 29 to answers charges over a breach of the International Sporting Code after being found to have lied to Australian Grand Prix race stewards.

The FIA announced the five charges are as follows:

- on 29 March, 2009, told the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix that no instructions were given to Hamilton in Car No. 1 to allow Trulli in Car no. 9 to pass when both cars were behind the safety car, knowing this statement to be untrue;

- procured its driver Hamilton the current world champion, to support and confirm this untrue statement to the stewards;

- although knowing that as a direct result of its untrue statement to the stewards, another driver and a rival team had been unfairly penalised, made no attempt to rectify the situation either by contacting the FIA or otherwise;

- on 2 April, 2009, at a second hearing before the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix, (meeting in Malaysia) made no attempt to correct the untrue statement of 29 March but, on the contrary, continued to maintain that the statement was true, despite being allowed to listen to a recording of the team instructing Hamilton to let Trulli past and despite being given more than one opportunity to correct its false statement;

- on 2 April, 2009, at the second stewards' hearing, procured its driver Hamilton to continue to assert the truth of the false statement given to the stewards on 29 March, while knowing that what he was saying to the stewards was not true.

Article 151c states that a breach of the rules will take place following "Any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally."



Looks like they are trying to minimse the damage by 'parting company' with Dave Ryan today.

I'd like to have been a fly on the wall when Uncle Ron went to the office yesterday

I still think Hamilton must bear some responsibilty, I surprised he hasn't been called before the FIA

I wonder how Martin Whitmarsh's feeling it's going after his first two races as CEO... Big Ron might be wondering if he left the team too soon!

Sadly, even ignoring the "previous" after the small incident of industrial espionage two years ago, they deserve the punishment. What is saddest, and "daftest", is that they've done this, tarnishing their brand and Lewis' too, over ONE POINT! Far more to lose than there is to gain, particularly at the first race of the year!

Taking into account that 1 point is worth quite a few bob to a team.....I have been watching F1 since 1984 and i really hate crap like this coming out for all to see.... :-(

Remember the days of Senna and Mansell...? I don't recall stuff like this happenening then....does anyone else...?

Tony

Techy111 wrote:Taking into account that 1 point is worth quite a few bob to a team.....I have been watching F1 since 1984 and i really hate crap like this coming out for all to see.... :-(

That is true, but lying over the content of something which would have been immediately available to the powers that be as audio and video evidence? You'd have thought they'd learn. Their last punishment lost them 218points in the constructors championship!

Techy111 wrote:I have been watching F1 since 1984

Tony

Now I feel old, my first GP was 1969!

I still think that Lewis could still be severely punished by this deception and that is exactly what it was, one expects honesty from teams and drivers when it comes down to giving evidence, no different to that of appearing in a court of law. Hamilton very foolishly went along with Dave Ryans' instructions to keep quiet and gave a very humble apology for his actions in Malaysia when the truth finally emerged.

Unfortunately I feel that Hamilton will lose a great deal of credibility through this and he may even face further punishment by the FIA by even being suspended from F1 should this be the case then I will have no sympathy for him. There is one point in being loyal to your employer and another for honesty.

I have lost a great deal of respect for Hamilton over this as Trulli and his team would have been unfairly penalised had this not come to light.

Regards
Nigel.

Thing is Nigel....how much was Lewis involved...? He....for once...may be the innocent party here....?

If and the big question is IF he was involved then he should be suspended but i think he hasn't been in F1 long enough to be unfairly treated coz of his team....Again..!

I like the guy...i like his style and i like his driving.....fingers crossed for him....

Tony

*edit* JB is still my fav of favs though.... :roll:

Techy111 wrote:Thing is Nigel....how much was Lewis involved...? He....for once...may be the innocent party here....?

My understanding is he attended the original stewards inquiry in Australia. He knew he was told to let Trulli through, and he did so. If that is the case how can he claim innocence?

Yes he is a team member, but he also has a responsibility to himself. The FIA can take action against individuals as well as teams

Yes, but at the same time, what does his contract say? I know in the US, there are some sports contracts that have stipulations in them that to some effect state that if the client is insubordinate or does not follow the instructions of the team officials, they can have their contract nullified. One would think that such clauses would become mute if it concerned something like this, but previous history has shown that some owners are daft enough to try and use it and then end up with the client out of a job and fighting in court. In the end, the client looses no matter how the courts come down and usually it means the end of their career in sports.

In the end, Lewis had to make a choice - follow the party line and do what he was told no matter what he did or didn't know or (if he did know) tell the truth and put his career at major risk. I have to side with Lewis on this one no matter what he did or didn't know. He took the path that meant that his ability to continue racing was at the least risk and thus his livelihood was at the least risk, and I can't fault him for that.

Chris, Hamilton's career wasn't at major risk. I think you are overlooking two points.

1. What are McLaren going to do to Hamilton if he doesn't tow the company line? If they sack him he would be snapped up by someone else within the hour. What about the publicity if McLaren did sack him, when Hamilton tells the world - 'they sacked me because I wouldn't lie for them'. Apart from anything else McLaren need Hamilton more than Hamilton needs them, especially with the performance of their current car.

2. Hamilton is effectively a PLC, he has to protect his reputation to make himself more attractive for personal sponsorship etc.

I don't understand why you suggest he didn't know, he was part a a radio conversation where he was told the let Trulli through. According to the FIA

- on 2 April, 2009, at the second stewards' hearing, procured its driver Hamilton to continue to assert the truth of the false statement given to the stewards on 29 March, while knowing that what he was saying to the stewards was not true