World champion Lewis Hamilton and the McLaren Mercedes team have been accused of ‘lying’ to the FIA stewards following a new investigation in the aftermath of last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.
The British driver had finished fourth on track, but was moved up to a podium position following a 25-second penalty added to Toyota’s Jarno Trulli. The Italian was deemed to having overtaken Hamilton behind the safety car.
However, following the discovery of new evidence from McLaren’s own radio communications, the race stewards have decided to issue a harsh punishment by stripping the team and the driver of all points scored in Melbourne.
This outcome has arrived at the worst possible time, as it follows on from that diffuser controversy… If the FIA International Court of Appeal come to a conclusion on April 14th that Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota’s rear aerodynamic kit is illegal, then the results of the opening Grand Prix and at Malaysia will become null and void. Meaning the whole integrity of the sport is a farce.
As for this latest development, it is difficult to understand the logic behind McLaren and world champion Lewis Hamilton to ‘twist’ the story in front of the race stewards. Is it a sign of desperation as this year’s car is not competitive? Why go all that way to lie for the sake of those extra six points?
From what I can understand, yes McLaren and Hamilton made a big mistake by initially saying that Trulli was at fault, but with the evidence now in the public domain, that error of judgement has proved costly.
To be honest, the lack of consistency from the race stewards is another issue to be looked at. The way it is right now, with different penalties handed out for drivers or/and teams that break the Formula One rule book, is testing the strain of hardcore Formula One fans to breaking point. Just look at the reaction from various motor sport forums on this issue.
It is a crying shame that following an exciting Grand Prix in Melbourne, the same old story of the stewards manipulating the results after the chequered flag, means the credibility of the sport is tarnished yet again with rows and controversy.
Right, you can read the full verdict by the race stewards below:
At the first hearing following the Australian Grand Prix the Stewards did not have the benefit of the radio exchanges between driver No 1 Lewis Hamilton and his Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes nor did they have access to the comments to the Media given by Lewis Hamilton immediately after the end of the race.
From the video recordings available to the Stewards during the hearing it appeared that Jarno Trulli’s car left the track and car No 1 moved into third place. It then appeared that Trulli overtook Hamilton to regain third place, which at the time was prohibited as it was during the Safety Car period.
During the hearing, held approximately one hour after the end of the race, the Stewards and the Race Director questioned Lewis Hamilton and his Team Manager David Ryan specifically about whether there had been an instruction given to Hamilton to allow Trulli to overtake. Both the driver and the Team Manager stated that no such instruction had been given. The Race Director specifically asked Hamilton whether he had consciously allowed Trulli to overtake. Hamilton insisted that he had not done so.
The new elements presented to the Stewards several days after the 2009 Australian Grand Prix which led to the reconvened Stewards Meeting clearly show that:
a. Immediately after the race and before Lewis Hamilton attended the Stewards Meeting he gave an interview to the Media where he clearly stated that the Team had told him to let Trulli pass.
b. Furthermore, the radio exchanges between the driver and the Team contain two explicit orders from the Team to let the Toyota pass.
The Stewards, having learned about the radio exchanges and the Media interview, felt strongly that they had been misled by the driver and his Team Manager which led to Jarno Trulli being unfairly penalised and Lewis Hamilton gaining third place.
Formula One – the pinnacle of motor racing? More like Formula Farce…
Various links on this issue, taken from Autosport.com and BBC Sport.
News on the disqualification: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74146
Jarno Trulli delighted at the outcome: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74147
Interview with Trulli: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74148
McLaren won’t appeal: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74150
Whitmarsh says McLaren did not lie: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74152
Interview with team boss Martin Whitmarsh: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74153
In addition, see this video footage when Jarno Trulli ‘had’ to overtake the slow McLaren during the safety car period. Quite interesting to hear Martin Brundle’s view on the situation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7978186.stm
Revised race results from Melbourne
1. Button Brawn GP 1h34:15.784
2. Barrichello Brawn GP +0.807
3. Trulli Toyota +1.604
4. Glock Toyota +4.435
5. Alonso Renault +4.879
6. Rosberg Williams-Toyota +5.722
7. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari +6.004
8. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari +6.298
9. Sutil Force India-Mercedes +6.335
10. Heidfeld BMW Sauber +7.085
11. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes +7.374
12. Webber Red Bull-Renault +1 lap
13. Vettel Red Bull-Renault +2 laps
14. Kubica BMW Sauber +3 laps
15. Raikkonen Ferrari +3 laps
Fastest lap: Rosberg, 1:27.706
Not classified/retirements:
Massa Ferrari 46 laps
Piquet Renault 25 laps
Nakajima Williams-Toyota 18 laps
Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1 lap
Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes Disqualified
World Championship standings, round 1:
Drivers:
1. Button 10
2. Barrichello 8
3. Trulli 6
4. Glock 5
5. Alonso 4
6. Rosberg 3
7. Buemi 2
8. Bourdais 1
Constructors:
1. Brawn GP 18
2. Toyota 11
3. Renault 4
4. Williams-Toyota 3
5. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 3
An update on this incident taken from Autosport.com
Lewis Hamilton has apologised to the FIA stewards and to his fans after what he labelled as a ‘huge mistake’ following the Australian Grand Prix.
The Briton was disqualified from the Melbourne race after the stewards deemed he and his McLaren team had lied following an incident with Toyota driver Jarno Trulli.
The incident had led to McLaren suspending sporting director David Ryan, who the team said was responsible for the misleading the stewards.
Hamilton said on Friday that he had no intention to lie to the stewards, and offered an apology to them, to the fans and to the media.
The world champion, who admitted the incident had taken a toll of him, also vowed to never let something like that happen again.
“In Melbourne, I had a great race. As soon as I got out the car I had the television interviews at the back of the garage, and straight away I gave them a good account of what happening during the race,” Hamilton told a news conference.
“Straight after that we were requested by the stewards, and while waiting for the stewards I was instructed and misled by my team manager to withhold information, and that is what I did.
“I sincerely apologise to the stewards for wasting their time and for making them look silly. I am very, very sorry for the situation: for my team, for Dave because he has been a good member of the team for many years, and whilst I don’t think it was his intention or…he is a good guy.
“I went into the meeting, I had no intention of…I just wanted to tell the story and say what happened. I was misled and that is the way it went.
“I would like to say a big sorry to all my fans who have believed in me, who have supported me for years, who I showed who I am for the past three years, and it is who I am. I am not a liar. I am not a dishonest person. I am a team player.
“Every time I have been informed to do something I have done it. This time I realise it was a huge mistake and I am learning from it. It has taken a huge toll on me.
“I apologise to you guys, I didn’t speak to you yesterday, but there was a lot to take in and a lot to deal with. I am here to apologise to everyone and I assure you it won’t happen again.”
Read the full interview here: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74203
And see the press conference here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7980593.stm
Read these excellent posts on F1 Fanatic website on the whole Hamilton-Trulli controversy, with two different viewpoints on the situation.
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/03/two-sides-to-the-hamilton-trulli-controversy-hamilton-and-mclaren-apologise/
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/04/03/two-sides-to-the-hamilton-trulli-controversy-another-entirely-avoidable-crisis/
What a complete mess the pair have made of this. At the end of the day, Lewis should have stuck to his guns and stayed in 3rd position. He knew ( hopefully anyway ) that with Trulli being completely off the track, he was OK to pass him and keep 3rd. BUt as usual, he bent over for the team and they screwed him. They failed to listen to him ( again! ) and told him to give the place back.
Then we have the next moment where Lewis lost his balls, and went along with David’s suggestion of lying. Again, despite video evidence show Lewis was legally 3rd and even telling the TV cameras that just minutes before.
I just cannot believe the team would do this. They have an appalling record with the stewards, and to do this, on just the first race was suicide. They have made the Ferrari Gate of two season ago seem like a pillow fight. This will ruin their reputation for a long, long time. Lewis is one of the most hated drivers ( though I’ve seen much worse attitudes in the past ) , so this will be stuck to him for the rest of his F1 life. Sportsman have done far worse and have come out of it OK in the end, but I know no-one will let this go. I mean what about a footballer doing a swan dive in the box and that wins them the Cup? It’s a lie just the same. but it’s an accepted part of the game, so go figure.
What I also hate is the fact that I cannot wear my McLaren jacket for long time also.
Thanks a bunch guys, you are utter idiots.
OH and I think this incident is another great reason for Lewis to leave the team asap. They cost him the championship in his first season. Told him so many wrong things ( inc letting Trulli by ) and now he MUST consider leaving. MC’s hold over him since he was 11 years old, has made him far to loyal to them.
So IMO he must leave, or get some of that attitude and direct it to the team. Shuey has also lied, and IMO done far, far wors things than that, inc being DQ’d for the whole freaking season! BUt he had respect from the team, and could drive the wheels of that car. Lewis can do the same, but he needs to step up to the mark, and instead of the team telling what to do, he must tell them what to do. It’s either that or leave.
Hard to see the logic of the lie. Not only does it risk of being found out (pretty easily in the end) but would probably poison relations with yet another team (Toyota) so soon after making up with Ferrari.
All the more galling as there’s a good chance that had the truth been told, Hamilton would probably be promoted to 3rd place anyway . Not a certainty by any means but the initial mistake was Trulli’s . They then can’t really blame Lewis/McLaren for not knowing the rules – the stewards was consulted by McLaren to clarify the situation but none was forthcoming which tends to suggest the stewards were confused as well. Whether that’s true or not , the stewards can’t really absolve themselves from responsibilities – had they instructed Toyota & McLaren what they should do when they were asked all would have been well. 2 laps at safety car pace is a good 5 minutes, there was plenty of time.
Unfortunately with the FIA embracing the roles of Police,Judge and Executioner, no criticism can/will ever be directed to itself even when the stewards failed in their capacity to make appropriate decisions quickly , ones that would prevent a minor infringement to snowball intro something that would ultimately damage the sport.
Bad management of “IndyGate” in 2005 effectively finished off F1 in the US . Lessons have not been learnt ……….
What a surprise… not!
McLaren has been summoned to appear before the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council on April 29 to answer charges that it has brought Formula 1 into disrepute over the controversy surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s Australian Grand Prix disqualification.
The team has been summoned after it ‘deliberately misled’ stewards at the Australian Grand Prix during a hearing into Jarno Trulli overtaking Lewis Hamilton behind the safety car in the closing stages of the Melbourne race.
The FIA announced on Tuesday that the team will appear before the extraordinary WMSC hearing in Paris on the Wednesday after the Bahrain GP to answer charges that it has breached Article 151c of the International Sporting Code.
The rule states that competitors are in breach of the regulations if they take part in: “Any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally.”
The FIA claims that McLaren may have broken the regulations on five counts, that:
* 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.
McLaren has already admitted that sporting director Dave Ryan and Hamilton lied to the stewards during the hearing in Australia, and a second meeting on the eve of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Ryan has been suspended by the team, and Hamilton made an open apology for his actions after revealing that he had been advised by Ryan not to tell the full truth.
“I’ve never felt so bad,” he said during an emotional press conference in Malaysia last week. “Try and put yourself in my position and understand that, like I said, I am not a liar. I have not gone through my life being a liar or dishonest. And so for people to say I am dishonest and for the world to think that….what can I say?”
It is possible that Hamilton could be called to testify at the WMSC hearing to clarify his involvement in the matter.
His father-manager Anthony was understood to have been in contact with FIA president Max Mosley during the course of last week’s Malaysian GP weekend as the fallout from the controversy spiralled out of control.
In addition, the McLaren team have fired Dave Ryan for his involvement in this matter.
“McLaren acknowledges receipt of an invitation to appear at an FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on April 29, received this afternoon,” said McLaren in a statement issued on Tuesday (April 7th).
“We undertake to co-operate fully with all WMSC processes, and welcome the opportunity to work with the FIA in the best interests of Formula 1.
“This afternoon McLaren and its former sporting director, Dave Ryan, have formally parted company. As a result, he is no longer an employee of any of the constituent companies of the McLaren Group.”
Source: Autosport.com
Right, here’s the latest update on the ‘lie-gate’ affair involving McLaren. The team has been given a three-race suspended ban. Read this article for further details:
McLaren has been given a suspended three-race ban for bringing the sport into disrepute after lying to stewards at the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix.
Following a hearing of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Wednesday (April 29th), the governing body announced that since McLaren had admitted to the offences and made clear that there had been a change of ‘culture’ at the team, it has suspended the sentence that it deemed appropriate.
A statement issued by the FIA said: “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.
“That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races of the FIA Formula One World Championship. 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 151c of the International Sporting Code.”
McLaren had been called before the WMSC to answer charges relating to former sporting director Dave Ryan and Lewis Hamilton lying to stewards about whether an order had been given to let Jarno Trulli overtake the world champion at the Australian Grand Prix.
The team was only found to have lied when radio transmissions, and copies of interviews Hamilton had given to the press immediately after the hearing came to light.
In the wake of the events, McLaren sacked Ryan and team principal Whitmarsh wrote a letter of apology to the governing body. Furthermore, former team boss Ron Dennis announced that he was stepping away totally from the F1 team in a move not unconnected to the matter – despite claims from Dennis otherwise.
Whitmarsh chose to appear at the FIA hearing in Paris alone, staying for less than an hour to apologise for all that had happened.
Speaking to reporters on the steps of the FIA building, Whitmarsh said: “We’ve made mistakes, we’ve apologised to the FIA and the public. We await the decision.”
When asked if he hoped today’s events would mark the end of the affair, he said: “I very much hope so.”
Source: Autosport.com
So technically, the penalty will only be enforced upon Lewis Hamilton and McLaren if “further facts emerge” about this incident or if there is a “further breach” of the rules. This is great news for Formula One. We can now refocus our attention on the track rather than the politics.