FIA clears McLaren of wrongdoing

The FIA has decided to take no action against McLaren after investigating the team in regard to its actions at the Monaco Grand Prix. It was alleged that McLaren had employed team orders to secure its one-two finish in Monaco, concerning the strategies that were in place for Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton and the way they were told to slow down and hold position after the first pit stops.

Race winner Fernando Alonso, McLaren Mercedes, MP4-22, 2nd, Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes, MP4-22.

Photo by xpb.cc.

Alonso, who was on pole position, was the leader of the race and Hamilton was running second; some accusations claimed that McLaren had denied Hamilton his maiden victory. However, the FIA studied radio traffic between McLaren and its drivers, as well as data from the team and a report from an FIA observer and concluded that McLaren's actions were "entirely legitimate".

"It is standard procedure for a team to tell its drivers to slow down when they have a substantial lead," the sport's governing body stated. "This is in order to minimise the risk of technical or other problems."

"It is also standard practice and entirely reasonable to ask the drivers not to put each other at risk. McLaren were able to pursue an optimum team strategy because they had a substantial advantage over all other cars. They did nothing which could be described as interfering with the race result."

McLaren chief Ron Dennis expressed his disappointment that the allegations had cast a shadow over the team's result. "The entire team was understandably disappointed that outstanding drives from both Fernando and Lewis resulting in a great one-two victory and McLaren's 150th win was temporarily tarnished," he commented.

"The efficient intervention and subsequent inquiry of the FIA into the allegations of the last three days has removed any doubt about the manner in which the team ran its cars during the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix. The team, Fernando and Lewis, who currently are leading both World Championships, can now concentrate on the Canadian Grand Prix."