Formula 1: FIA to probe McLaren race victory

[Brainy]

FIA to probe McLaren race victory

Alonso beat Hamilton in Sunday's race

Formula One bosses are investigating McLaren for a possible breach of the rules in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.

The FIA probe will look into a breach of the International Sporting code after Fernando Alonso pushed team-mate Lewis Hamilton into second place.

A statement read: "The FIA has launched an investigation into incidents involving the McLaren Mercedes team."

McLaren team boss Ron Dennis says he prevented his drivers from racing in Monaco after their first pit stops.

Prior to the announcment, Dennis maintained the outcome was a result of team strategy, rather than team orders.

And he admitted he "virtually had to decide in advance" which one of the drivers would win Sunday's race.

The FIA statement added: "The relevant evidence is under review and a further announcement will be made in due course."

Team orders are banned by the governing body after Rubens Barrichello was told to let Michael Schumacher win the Austrian Grand Prix in 2002.

But Dennis insists there was nothing amiss with his plans for the 78-lap race around the streets of the Principality.

The 59-year-old catered for a potential safety-car incident, as had occurred in four of the previous five Monaco Grands Prix.

If one had taken place, Hamilton would have claimed victory.

But 22-year-old Briton Hamilton was instructed "to take it easy" late on as he had closed to within 0.8seconds of Alonso.

That left him unhappy Hamilton bemoaning his second-fiddle role.

But Dennis said: "Team strategy is what you bring to bear to win a grand prix; team orders are what you bring to bear to manipulate a grand prix.

"We do not, and have not, manipulated grands prix unless there are some exceptional circumstances.

"That is one of the very rare occasions there's been a team order. I don't feel uncomfortable with them, but I sleep easy.

"I have a clear conscience, both with regard to that particular race and this race here (Monaco).

"Lewis and Fernando enjoy being in a competitive team, and having competitive cars," added Dennis.

"But one of the things you have to come to accept is that if you are a member of this grand prix team, for the vast majority of the time, there is equal opportunity for drivers to race. But Monaco is not one of them."

[Number 6]

can't blame mclaren imo, made sense as a team

[davieG]

Instead of trying to dump the British Grand Prix they should dump this boring spectacle, all they need to do is give the points to the pole leader.

But they wont because most of them live there.

[isaidno]

This is stupid, Alonso was fastest in both practice sessions on Friday , got pole position . Hamilton wouldn't have been able to overtake Alonso anyway, it's impossible at Monaco

[Brainy]

I agree with Ron Dennis.

What would the punishment be anyway?

[Simon]

This is stupid, Alonso was fastest in both practice sessions on Friday , got pole position . Hamilton wouldn't have been able to overtake Alonso anyway, it's impossible at Monaco

I think the point is more that Lewis was close enough to attempt it- would have done so and would have probably taken them both out in the process- leaving McLaren with nil points.

[isaidno]

Their talking about a fine or deduction of constructors points . I agree with Ron Dennis

[Brainy]

McLaren cleared over Hamilton row

Hamilton slipped to second in the Championship race behind Alonso

McLaren have been cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation into whether they illegally used team orders at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Governing body the FIA said after studying the race that McLaren "did nothing which could be described as interfering with the race result".

McLaren had admitted that they had asked Lewis Hamilton not to challenge team-mate Fernando Alonso for victory.

But the FIA declared McLaren's actions "entirely legitimate and reasonable".

606: DEBATE

Your thoughts on the decision

It added that it was "standard procedure for a team to tell its drivers to slow down when they have a substantial lead" and "entirely reasonable to ask the drivers not to put each other at risk".

"McLaren were able to pursue an optimum team strategy because they had a substantial advantage over all other cars.

"They did nothing which could be described as interfering with the race result."

There is no obligation on them to take a risk in order to overtake their own car. Indeed it would be foolish.

The FIA statement

The FIA investigation upheld McLaren's argument that Hamilton had been deployed before the race with the possibility of switching to a one-stop strategy, while Alonso was on the optimum two-stop strategy.

This was with a view to the team ensuring they were in the optimum position if a safety car had been deployed, as it has been in four of the previous five races at Monaco.

Hamilton had expressed his confusion at being called in earlier than expected for his first pit stop rather than being left to run the additional laps the extra fuel in his car allowed, which might have allowed him to pass Alonso.

McLaren's decision to call the Englishman in apparently early for his second stop, which also seemed to prevent him challenging Alonso's position, was also questioned.

But the FIA said: "With no safety car during Alonso's first stint, there was a small but finite risk that it would come out during the five laps before Hamilton had to refuel.

"This would have put him behind the field and at a significant disadvantage to any car on a full (as opposed to optional) one-stop strategy.

Hamilton was unhappy at not being allowed to challenge Alonso

"The latter cars would be expected to refuel around lap 40 - ie after the safety car had pitted if it came out during Hamilton's extra laps.

"For similar reasons, Hamilton was called in early for his second pit stop, thus assuring his second place, with or without the safety car."

The FIA statement continued: "Had the car in front of Hamilton not been his team-mate, McLaren might (probably would) have decided to risk the safety car and let Hamilton run for as long as his fuel allowed in the hope he would come out of the pits in the lead after one of his pit stops.

"There is, however, no obligation on them to take this risk in order to overtake their own car. Indeed it would be foolish to do so."

The FIA examined radio communications between McLaren and their drivers, data from the team and a report from the official observer before coming to its conclusions.

[Alexikokopops]

Did anyone else read the title to this quickly and think the England manager's been up to some racial tomfoolery?

[Sly]

Did anyone else read the title to this quickly and think the England manager's been up to some racial tomfoolery?

Yes, I was trying to work out who the FIA were? I thought someone might have misspealt FIFA.