McLaren in trouble

May 29 2007 By The Evening Chronicle

McLaren will discover by the end of the week if they are to be punished for the orchestrated one-two finish at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, have launched an investigation into the procession that took place around the streets of Monte Carlo on Sunday.

Reigning world champion Fernando Alonso led home team-mate Lewis Hamilton, with the manufactured result ensuring the duo now share equal billing at the top of the drivers' standings.

Alonso has the edge courtesy of his two race wins, with his 17th overall in his career now the object of scrutiny by the FIA.

After coming within 0.8 seconds of Alonso in the final third of the 78-lap race, Hamilton claims he was told "to ease off" by the team in order they score maximum points.

Team principal Ron Dennis also stated that, given the nature of the race, "you virtually have to decide in advance which of the team's drivers will claim the victory".

Dennis maintains that is in the event of a potential safety-car incident, as had occurred in four of the previous five grands prix at the Principality.

As there were no accidents, Alonso was the main beneficiary of the team's strategy, whereas Hamilton would have emerged the victor if the safety car had been deployed.

Dennis further insisted: "We are scrupulously fair at all times in how we run this grand prix team."

Yet, there are those who feel team strategy gave way to team orders which are banned under FIA regulations.

They came into force after Rubens Barrichello was told by his then Ferrari bosses to let Michael Schumacher pass him and win the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix.

With regard to this latest matter, a statement read: "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."

McLaren have potentially contravened Article 151c of the International Sporting Code by way of `any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition, or to the interests of motorsport generally'. The investigation should take a matter of days to conclude.