Breaking News: McLaren under investigation by FIA after Monaco GP

This just came up on several news channels, but no details yet. I'm guessing it's regarding team orders, but we'll find out soon enough I guess.

UPDATE: Quote from the FIA website:

The FIA has launched an investigation into incidents involving the McLaren Mercedes team at the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix in light of a possible breach of the International Sporting Code.

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

One thing we do know is that the FIA sticks to the rules extremely strictly, and penalties are rarely forgiving.

UPDATE 2: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6698349.stm 

He did indeed, so there may be trouble ahead. I can't see anything other than a fine though, considering it's a lot less worse than what Ferrari did at Austria 2002. If McLaren are docked points though, it really will show why the FIA stands for "Ferrari International Assistance".

Yeah, even though McLaren imposed 'team orders' yesterday, they didn't affect any other teams at all, and they did it for safety reasons. I'd hate to see Hamilton or Alonso throwing away points by crashing because of pressure from each other, especially as there was absolutely no hope after the second round of pits to overtake. It would be like Ferrari telling Massa to stop trying to catch Hamilton because there is no hope of overtaking him.. there's no rule against that, so what's wrong here?cjek

This is what ITV-F1 have about it:

McLaren are under investigation by Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, over a possible breach of F1's sporting code in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.

The Woking squad took a dominant 1-2 finish on the street circuit, with race-winner Fernando Alonso and team-mate Lewis Hamilton lapping all drivers up to third-placed man Felipe Massa.

Ron Dennis revealed to ITV Sport following the race that he had ordered his drivers to drive conservatively as soon as it became clear that McLaren was in command following the first round of pit-stops to ensure maximum points.

His decision was widely criticised in the British press on Monday morning, as it prevented Hamilton from challenging Alonso wheel-to-wheel on track for his first career victory.

"The FIA has launched an investigation into incidents involving the McLaren Mercedes team at the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix in light of a possible breach of the International Sporting Code," read a statement by the governing body on Monday.

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

Team orders were outlawed in F1 following the Austrian GP in 2002, when Ferrari caused outrage by ordering race-leader Rubens Barrichello to move over for Michael Schumacher on the final lap of the race.

Dennis's comments after the Monaco GP suggested that McLaren actively managed the race as the two drivers eased their pace after the first pit stops.

"Either of the drivers could have won," he told ITV Sport.

"I don't know what the true pace was, but it was a lot quicker than we went.

"Really, from around the stops it was very apparent that either driver could push harder.

"It was frustrating for the drivers but we have to function as a team.

"Slowing them down was difficult, because you have to maintain concentration, but that's my job."

His decision was widely criticised in the British press on Monday morning, as it prevented Hamilton from challenging Alonso wheel-to-wheel on track for his first career victory.

typical....if Hamilton had of been german, french etc no one would give a damn, but because his a brit, everyones HAS TO make a big song and dance out of it :roll:

and why is it ferrari were allowed to do it for about 5 years? 

His decision was widely criticised in the British press on Monday morning, as it prevented Hamilton from challenging Alonso wheel-to-wheel on track for his first career victory.

typical....if Hamilton had of been german, french etc no one would give a damn, but because his a brit, everyones HAS TO make a big song and dance out of it :roll:

and why is it ferrari were allowed to do it for about 5 years? 

kalais91

spot on!!, i completely agree.

He did indeed, so there may be trouble ahead. I can't see anything other than a fine though, considering it's a lot less worse than what Ferrari did at Austria 2002. If McLaren are docked points though, it really will show why the FIA stands for "Ferrari International Assistance".

Redders1989

GAH :evil: I WANT TO SCREAM NOW!!

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has waded into the McLaren team-order controversy by claiming that the team could face some of the most draconian penalties the sport has seen if found guilty of breaching the sporting regulations.

The FIA launched an investigation into McLaren's 1-2 finish in Monaco after team principal Ron Dennis publicly stated that he had instructed his drivers to control their pace early in the race, prompting suggestions in the British media that Lewis Hamilton was prevented from challenging Fernando Alonso for victory.

And Ecclestone has warned that McLaren might face a ban or even exclusion from the championship if the FIA can prove it has breached article 151c of the sporting code.

"I don't know what the team orders are or were," he told the Daily Mail newspaper.

"One thing is for sure: If there were team orders which relate to the position of the two drivers - if somebody is told to move over or hold their position - it is against all the sporting regulations we have.

"If there were orders, they would be getting off lightly if they get the same sort of fine as Ferrari [whose drivers were jointly fined $US1 m for fixing the 2002 Austrian GP result].

"They could be excluded from the championship or they could have points deducted.

"A fine for McLaren, with its money, would not have the same effect as docking points."

Ecclestone added that the severity of any punishment would have to be measured against other penalties meted out by the FIA.

He used as an example the Turkish Grand Prix organisers' $US5m fine for compromising F1's political neutrality with its controversial podium ceremony after last year's race at Istanbul.

"This would be breaking the regulations," he said. "It's more serious and that should be reflected."

Ecclestone also hinted that any exclusion may be levied at the team only, adding that the drivers should not be punished - leading to speculation that should McLaren be found guilty it would be docked constructors' championship points or excluded from competing in it.

"If there were instructions, it wouldn't be the drivers' fault," he said.

"If I'm driving for you and you tell me to stay where I am and not overtake the guy in front, what can I do?

"It would be those who give the orders who should receive the punishment."

McLaren issued a statement on Tuesday saying that it was confident it has not breached the regulations.

"McLaren are completely comfortable with the FIA's investigation into our race strategy and that all decisions taken both before and during the race were completely in compliance with the international sporting code," it read.

SOURCE: ITV-F1

IF THEY ARE DOCKED POINTS OR EXCLUDED, THE SPORT TAKES ANOTHER BAD HIT. WHAT THEY DID IS NOWHERE NEAR AS BAD AS WHAT FERRARI DID IN 2002, IT IS A DISGRACE WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

If they do get excluded, you might as well call this championship off - Ferrari will win it undeservingly (albeit McLaren's fault for what they did). Thank goodness the driver's wont recive a penalty, it still gives Alonso & Hamilton the chance to win the Driver's title, but still grrrr if McLaren lose points or are excluded. I won't be a happy guy at all :evil:

GAH :evil: I WANT TO SCREAM NOW!!

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has waded into the McLaren team-order controversy by claiming that the team could face some of the most draconian penalties the sport has seen if found guilty of breaching the sporting regulations.

The FIA launched an investigation into McLaren's 1-2 finish in Monaco after team principal Ron Dennis publicly stated that he had instructed his drivers to control their pace early in the race, prompting suggestions in the British media that Lewis Hamilton was prevented from challenging Fernando Alonso for victory.

And Ecclestone has warned that McLaren might face a ban or even exclusion from the championship if the FIA can prove it has breached article 151c of the sporting code.

"I don't know what the team orders are or were," he told the Daily Mail newspaper.

"One thing is for sure: If there were team orders which relate to the position of the two drivers - if somebody is told to move over or hold their position - it is against all the sporting regulations we have.

"If there were orders, they would be getting off lightly if they get the same sort of fine as Ferrari [whose drivers were jointly fined $US1 m for fixing the 2002 Austrian GP result].

"They could be excluded from the championship or they could have points deducted.

"A fine for McLaren, with its money, would not have the same effect as docking points."

Ecclestone added that the severity of any punishment would have to be measured against other penalties meted out by the FIA.

He used as an example the Turkish Grand Prix organisers' $US5m fine for compromising F1's political neutrality with its controversial podium ceremony after last year's race at Istanbul.

"This would be breaking the regulations," he said. "It's more serious and that should be reflected."

Ecclestone also hinted that any exclusion may be levied at the team only, adding that the drivers should not be punished - leading to speculation that should McLaren be found guilty it would be docked constructors' championship points or excluded from competing in it.

"If there were instructions, it wouldn't be the drivers' fault," he said.

"If I'm driving for you and you tell me to stay where I am and not overtake the guy in front, what can I do?

"It would be those who give the orders who should receive the punishment."

McLaren issued a statement on Tuesday saying that it was confident it has not breached the regulations.

"McLaren are completely comfortable with the FIA's investigation into our race strategy and that all decisions taken both before and during the race were completely in compliance with the international sporting code," it read.

SOURCE: ITV-F1

IF THEY ARE DOCKED POINTS OR EXCLUDED, THE SPORT TAKES ANOTHER BAD HIT. WHAT THEY DID IS NOWHERE NEAR AS BAD AS WHAT FERRARI DID IN 2002, IT IS A DISGRACE WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

If they do get excluded, you might as well call this championship off - Ferrari will win it undeservingly (albeit McLaren's fault for what they did). Thank goodness the driver's wont recive a penalty, it still gives Alonso & Hamilton the chance to win the Driver's title, but still grrrr if McLaren lose points or are excluded. I won't be a happy guy at all :evil:

Redders1989

Is that true?