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#13131
From autosport.com:

McLaren under investigation by stewards

By Jonathan Noble and Steve Cooper Thursday, September 6th 2007, 12:54 GMT

McLaren are under investigation by the race stewards at the Italian Grand Prix over their running of a new lightweight gearbox in Hungary that had not been crash tested, autosport.com can reveal.

Paddock sources have confirmed that discussions are currently taking place at Monza to decide whether anything needs to be done about McLaren's actions in Hungary.

It is understood that the Woking-based team ran their new lightweight gearbox at the race at Hungaroring without a new crash test taking place prior to the event.

Although the new gearbox did not require an altered crash structure from the one already approved by the FIA to be put in place, it is understood McLaren's actions could have breached article 16.1.2 of Formula One's technical regulations.

The rules state: "Any significant modification introduced into any of the structures tested shall require that part to pass a further test."

The issue of the gearbox only came to light after the Turkish Grand Prix, when McLaren passed a crash test with the new version - with the team having reverted to their older unit at the Istanbul Park event.

Sources have made it clear that McLaren did not deliberately try and hide the fact that they had raced with the lightweight gearbox in Hungary.

It is not clear whether the matter will result in action being taken. And should McLaren be found to be in breach of the rules, it is hard to predict what punishment could be handed out.

Previous precedents, like the fuel controversy involving the Williams and Benetton teams at the 1995 Brazilian Grand Prix, resulted in the team losing their constructors' championship points.

But the Hungary matter is complicated by the fact that McLaren have already lost their constructors' championship points from that event because of the qualifying controversy between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.


Well, here we go again. Last season it was Renault and Alonso's turn to be punished at the Italian Grand Prix and this season it McLaren's turn.

This year's championship has become a laughing stock a long time ago. Ferrari's case against McLaren in the spying scandal doesn't add up, McLaren get punished for nothing in Hungary and now the team are being investigated under some woolly rule, even though the gearbox doesn't require testing under the regulations.

You can read the techical regulations here: http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/71EDB18A1DD3F7C3C12573290033806D/$FILE/06F1_TECHNICAL_REGULATIONS.pdf?Openelement

There is nothing in them which states that the gearbox is a significant part of the car, only that it must be in place for the rear crash test and how and where the gearbox should be positioned. Once again, the team are being punished under a rule that simply doesn't exist.

This Ferrari International Association are morally corrupt for allowing the authorities on the circuit to get away with this behaviour. If Ferrari win anything this year they will be FALSE champions. If McLaren were to win one or both championships, it would be amongst the greatest victories of the team, even up there with 1988 etc.
User avatar
By McLaren Fan
#13134
From [i]itv.com/f1:

McLaren denies wrongdoing over gearbox
Thursday, 06, September, 2007, 15:41

McLaren has issued a statement denying breaking any regulations after Italian Grand Prix stewards launched an investigation into the team's racing of a new lightweight gearbox without a prior crash test in Hungary last month.

The under-fire championship leading team has been put under investigation to see if it is in breach of Formula 1 regulations in not having the updated gearbox subjected to a new crash test prior to the event.

The Woking squad insists it has acted inside the rules and says is expects the stewards to come to the same conclusion.

"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,â€
User avatar
By Selcouth_Feline
#13135
What if they are found guilty though? The past suggests that they would be docked points, however they didn't actually win any at the Hungarian GP (subject to the appeal of course...). I wonder if this latest saga will have any effect on the appeal?
User avatar
By Freddie
#13139
I get the feeling that it is all set up like all the crap in WWF, TNA or what all these wrestling federations are called.

Just to keep us all occupied between the races and giving us all something to fill up the discussion forums with

How's that for a conspiracy theory ? :D:shock:
User avatar
By darwin dali
#13140
McLaren can't get a break it seems - most of it is house-made. It just shows under how much pressure they are to try to beat Ferrari and in what kind of disarray the whole team is over all these screw-ups and attempts to cheat (contrary to what RD wants us to believe, McLaren is NOT any better or more honest or whatever than any other team in the paddock) and attempts to cover up. So far the pressure hasn't had any major effect on track, but it's just a question of time when it will...
And even if it won't show on track, consequences for their off-track shenanigans may well affect the outcome of their championship endeavor.
User avatar
By darwin dali
#13160
OUCH - if this turns out to be true...
User avatar
By McLaren Fan
#13166
McLaren can't get a break it seems - most of it is house-made. It just shows under how much pressure they are to try to beat Ferrari and in what kind of disarray the whole team is over all these screw-ups and attempts to cheat (contrary to what RD wants us to believe, McLaren is NOT any better or more honest or whatever than any other team in the paddock) and attempts to cover up. So far the pressure hasn't had any major effect on track, but it's just a question of time when it will...
And even if it won't show on track, consequences for their off-track shenanigans may well affect the outcome of their championship endeavor.

You don't half talk some rubbish at times. :roll:
User avatar
By ferraribird
#13169
£25000 fine for McLaren, is it too harsh?

Also, Alonso might have been caught red handed in this spy saga as himself and PDR had a e-mail conversation that had the Ferrari set-ups! :shock::shock::shock:

http://www.forumula1.com/2007/f1/f1-new ... to-alonso/


It just gets worse, if this is actually true. If so, this emailing between FA and PDR could've been one of those conversational slips that can happen in an arena of high confidentiality. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, it was a silly thing to do. If intended...I dread to think. Surely, surely they are not so stupid as to think they can email this stuff around and not get found out. :?:shock:
User avatar
By Selcouth_Feline
#13179
Surely, surely they are not so stupid as to think they can email this stuff around and not get found out. :?:shock:


Many people are surprised at the power of computer forensics ;)

I'd be really surprised if this story is true...but if it is...ouch.
User avatar
By 8-ball
#13180
if maclaren are found guilty then they could be banned from 2007 & 08 championship. what will happen to FA and LH then??
By the truth hurts
#13181
wern,t mclaren allready found guilty ? and not punished? how much evidence do the fia need!
User avatar
By 8-ball
#13182
wern,t mclaren allready found guilty ? and not punished? how much evidence do the fia need!


it was lack of evidence that meant maclaren got off unpunished but if they are punished by being banned from the championship then f1 will suffer as a sport
By the truth hurts
#13185
your from england right? it figures
User avatar
By Selcouth_Feline
#13192
it was lack of evidence that meant maclaren got off unpunished but if they are punished by being banned from the championship then f1 will suffer as a sport


It's got to a stage now where whether McLaren are punished or not is almost academic - I think all of this year's ridiculous nonsense has tarnished the sport's image.

Formula 1 did need an excitement injection but it's getting ludicrous.

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