FIA official to ensure McLaren equality
By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Thursday, October 11th 2007, 09:36 GMT
An FIA official will oversee McLaren's treatment of both their drivers during the Brazilian Grand Prix, to ensure there is complete equality between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
With McLaren already having issued a statement to make it clear that both Alonso and Hamilton will have equal chances of winning the title, the FIA is to ensure such a state of affairs by using a separate scrutineer for the Woking-based team at the Interlagos event.
The news was revealed by the head of the Spanish motorsport federation Carlos Gracia, who will also be attending the event on a personal invitation from McLaren boss Ron Dennis.
"Yes, it's true that the FIA will have a steward making sure that nothing wrong happens to Fernando, especially in qualifying, which is where there have been more complaints or strange situations in the last few Grands Prix," said Garcia in an interview with Spanish newspaper AS.
"On October 3 I had a meeting with Max Mosley where I showed my concern over the situation that Fernando is going through, which is no secret, and he reassured me."
Alonso was furious after qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix when he could not understand why he had lost time to teammate Hamilton. This prompted his outspoken criticisms of the team to the Spanish media, and led to speculation that his tyre pressures had been set at an incorrect level.
Garcia has said he has no doubts that McLaren will treat Alonso and Hamilton equally, as he played down claims that he was also only going to check on fair play.
"There are two Spanish drivers at McLaren and it makes sense for the federation to be there," he said. "Honestly I think the treatment in this final race of the season will be the same, and that there will be equality for both drivers.
"It couldn't be any other way because it's what common sense calls for, as there is a Ferrari driver behind and the British team have to fight against the red cars, not against their drivers. Fernando must be calm."
McLaren boss Ron Dennis has always insisted that Alonso and Hamilton have had equal chances this season, despite suggestions from Alonso that that has not always been the case.
In a statement issued by McLaren on Wednesday, Dennis said: "This has been a tremendous season to which the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team and our drivers have, I believe, contributed a great deal.
"This contribution has been enhanced by allowing Fernando and Lewis to race each other with complete equality. This will, of course, continue in Brazil where the entire team will be doing its absolute best to win the drivers' world championship."
