McLaren fined $50,000 by stewards

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By Pablo Elizalde Thursday, September 6th 2007, 17:06 GMT


The McLaren Mercedes team have been fined $50,000 by the Italian Grand Prix stewards over the running of a new lightweight gearbox in Hungary that had not been crash tested.

The British squad, leading both championships, ran their new gearbox at the race at Hungaroring without a new crash test taking place prior to the Grand Prix.

The gearbox did not require an altered crash structure from the one already approved by the FIA, but McLaren's actions still breached article 16.1.2 of Formula One's technical regulations, which states that "any significant modification introduced into any of the structures tested shall require that part to pass a further test."

The stewards imposed a $50,000 fine after they found the changes had been significant enough for another crash test to be carried out.

"It was the view of the FIA that the changes made to the original gearbox were 'significant'," the stewards said in a statement.

The new gearbox passed the required crash tests after the race, meaning that, as far as the FIA was concerned, McLaren ran a legal car.

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The full decision by the stewards

 Thursday, September 6th 2007, 17:14 GMT


The stewards having received a report from the Race Director regarding the use a the Hungarian Grand Prix by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes (McLaren) of what they refer to as "lightweight gearbox" requested the presence today of Paddy Lowe (Engineering Director of McLaren) and David Ryan (Team Manager) and such other personnel as they considered appropriate to explain the position.

The facts as ascertained are that late in the afternoon of Thursday 2nd August Paddy Lowe disclosed to the Race Director as list of changes made to their vehicle, one of which was referred to as a "lightweight gearbox".

The matter was referred to the FIA F1 Technical Delegate for his consideration but a meeting between the parties did not take place until immediately prior to qualifying on Saturday 4th August.

Changes to both cars were shown to the Technical Delegate who marked the list produced by McLaren as confirmation that the changes had been brought to his attention. His action did not constitute approval to the changes and this fact is recognised by McLaren.

The Technical Delegate asked whether the changes to the gearbox had been subjected to a further crash test. He was advised that the changes were only to the gearbox and were not significant. The Technical Delegate asked that he be given details of the changes before the next race.

Both team cars took part in qualifying and the race using the lightweight gearboxes.

When further information was received on the evening of Friday of 17th August which detailed the tests carried out by McLaren on their lightweight gearboxes the FIA requested details of actual differences between the original gearbox and the lightweight version.

This information was finally received on the evening of Tuesday 21st August. It was the view of the FIA that the changes had been made to the original gearbox (which together with the original rear impact structure had been subjected to impact tests) were "significant".

2007 Formula One Technical Regulations Article 16/1/2 states that "any significant modification introduced into any of the structures tested shall require that part to pass a further test."

The FIA accordingly requested McLaren to carry out further tests as required by Article 16.1.1 in the presence of the FIA technical delegate.

Because of time constraints McLaren used the original (not the lightweight) gearboxes for the Turkish Grand Prix. The relevant tests were carried out and completed satisfactorily on Thursday 30th august.

The view of McLaren is that the modifications made to their original gearbox which resulted in that which is termed the lightweight gearbox were not significant within the meaning of Article 16.1.2 such as to require the component to be re-tested. They base this view upon what they regard as the excessive weight and strength of the original gearbox (which was designed to meet a greater crash test requirement than that which applies in 2007) and upon the results of their own computer modelling.

The view of the FIA is that the percentage in weight reduction (which it is accepted does not necessarily correlate to a reduction in strength) was of sufficient magnitude as to be regarded as "significant" therefore requiring an impact test before use.

Whilst the term "significant" contained within Article 16.1.2 is subjective and open to interpretation (as indicated by the different views adopted by McLaren and the FIA), what is beyond doubt is that by delaying the supply of information to the FIA (which could have been supplied on completion of the modification to the gearboxes during the week commencing Monday 16th July), McLaren deprived the FIA of the opportunity to consider the changes made and require impact testing to be carried out before use.

Had such information been imparted in due time the tests could have been satisfactorily completed prior to the Hungarian Grand Prix such that their use would have been without criticism.

Clearly the requirement to submit information which may result in a request of impact testing is important in the FIA's endeavours to ensure the continued safety of competitors. The Stewards feel that disclosure should be made in circumstances such as this and accordingly censure McLaren for choosing to rely on the results of their own computer modelling and denying the FIA the opportunity of requiring the results of an actual impact test before using the component concerned.

McLaren are accordingly ordered to pay a fine of US$50,000 (FIA International Sporting Code Article 155).

The view of the Stewards is that the components having been satisfactorily tested indicate that the cars complied with the technical configuration required when they raced in Hungary. Nothing in this decision is to be taken as condoning the practice of retrospective impact testing resulting in the use of untested components but in the particular circumstances of this case no further sanction will be applied.

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FIA won't hesitate to act over '08 McLaren

By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, September 25th 2007, 09:59 GMT


FIA president Max Mosley believes that the sport's governing body will have no choice but to punish McLaren further if there is any evidence of Ferrari-inspired parts on their 2008 car.

The design of McLaren's future chassis will be evaluated by the FIA later this year to ensure that it is free of any components that could have been inspired by intellectual property from Ferrari.

And although McLaren have always insisted that no Ferrari IP was even used on their 2007 car, Mosley has warned that the FIA will have no hesitation in taking action if they feel there are questionable parts.

"Everything will come out in detail and we will all be surprised," Mosley was quoted by The Daily Express as saying about the still looming legal action over the matter.

"I feel the only way to have a fair championship in 2008 would have been to exclude McLaren but that would probably have put them out of business.

"It would have been correct to throw Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton out of this year's drivers' championship but in the World Motor Sport Council, hearts ruled heads. If there was serious evidence of Ferrari's influence in any McLaren design, however, we would have to take action.

"We don't want this to drag on but I don't feel it has harmed F1. The fans and sponsors who are putting in huge sums of money want to know the sport is honest."

Mosley has also hit back at criticisms from former world champion Jackie Stewart about his handling of the affair.

"There's one particular ex-driver who because he never stops talking, never has the chance to listen ? so he doesn't know what's going on," Mosley was quoted as saying by The Daily Mail.

"He said the FIA's decision would not have worked in a civil court. He has no qualification to say that. Then he starts saying this is personal between me and Ron Dennis, at great length, because everything he does is at extreme length.

"It's annoying that some of the sponsors listen to him because he's won a few championships. But nobody else in Formula One does ? not the teams, not the drivers. He's a figure of fun among drivers."

He added: "He goes round dressed up as a 1930s music hall man. He's a certified halfwit."