from BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula 1 | McLaren given suspended race ban

McLaren have been given a suspended three-race ban for misleading stewards at the Australian Grand Prix by motor sport's governing body, the FIA.

The British team admitted five charges of breaching Formula One rules at a special inquiry on Wednesday in Paris.

The penalty will only be enforced upon Lewis Hamilton's team if "further facts emerge" about this incident or if there is a "further breach" of the rules.

The FIA said team boss Martin Whitmarsh had been "open and honest" with them.

A World Motor Sport Council statement read: "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.

"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 151 c of the International Sporting Code."

The incident towards the end of the season-opening race in Melbourne where world champion Hamilton finished fourth behind Jarno Trulli's Toyota.

Following the race, McLaren accused the Italian of breaking F1 rules by overtaking while the field was under the control of the safety car.

Officials initially handed Trulli a 25-second penalty, promoting Hamilton to third after he and McLaren's long-serving sporting director Dave Ryan gave evidence that the Englishman had not deliberately let the Toyota driver through, and had not been asked by the team to do so.

But McLaren's radio communication contradicted this and Hamilton was later disqualified with Trulli reinstated to third place.

Hamilton, who issued an emotional public apology after the incident, has escaped punishment from the FIA.

After full details were revealed, Ryan was sacked after 35 years with the team and former McLaren principal Ron Dennis moved away from his involvement with F1 - although he insisted it was not related to the incident.

 

slap on the wrist IMO ............ Great find Gray you beat me to it ...You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to GrayTT again.

 

I still don't get it. I think nearly team on the pit wall would have done the same thing. They just got a chance to bust McLaren.

 

I never thought I'd say this, but the punishment seems fair...EXCEPT for extending it out over the next year. What the heck is that about? Doesn't make sense to penalize McLaren NEXT year for something they did this season. Other than that though, McLaren better watch it. They're on thin ice.

 

Extending it into next year seems a bit much... but lets hope it prevents another spiegate/liegate or any other crazyness from McLaren.

Is it possible they can be watched even closer by the FIA now lol.

 

So is this more of a warning, where if the mess up again this season, then they gonna get it?!! McLaren's has had a target on its back for three seasons now, I don't seem how this is going to change things.

As I've said before, I do believe that banning them from the Spanish GP or Monaco would have been very negative for the sport.

 

A slap on the wrist.... It means nothing if they keep their nose clean.. Could have been much worse.. I'm sure they are all tipping back the celebratory glasses now that they pretty much got off if they keep their nose clean.. I would be thrilled if I was them.

 

The WMSC has messed up entirely.

If they did what I've been saying, McLaren would probably stay for future seasons. We'd still have RonSpeak and none of us would be upset.

 

This was even lighter than expected. Whitmarsh threw himself on the mercy of the court. That is really what they wanted. The poor performance this season is largely a punishment in and of itself. The new guidelines and regulations were put into place largely to bring down McLaren and Ferrari - and it worked.

I guess they don't want to kick a dog when it is already on the ground.

 

This matter was well handled by both parties. Mclaren got caught and Witmarsh did the right thing by leaving their punishment to the mercy of the court.

Would things have been different with Ron speaking to the court?