Formula 1
FIA had to disqualify Hamilton in Spain - Whiting
GMM
Edited: May 16, 2012, 12:44 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
May 16 (GMM) Charlie Whiting has defended the decision in Spain to move Lewis Hamilton from pole to the very rear of the grid.
Charlie Whiting, FIA Delegate
Photo by: xpb.cc
Although McLaren was widely criticised for making a grave error, the stewards' penalty was at the same time described by the world's press as "draconian".
"Quite frankly I did not expect the penalty that we received," said McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh.
Indeed, given that McLaren's fuel indiscretion occurred only in the decisive Q3, why not simply delete Hamilton's Q3 laptimes, thereby putting the Briton mid-grid for the race?
"We had no room to move," Whiting, the FIA's race director, responded to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport when told that Hamilton's penalty seemed too severe.
"If there is a violation, it applies to the whole session, not just part of it," he insisted. "Qualifying begins with Q1."
Whiting explained that if Hamilton had only lost his Q3 time, a precedent would have been set tempting teams to risk not being checked for the mandatory 1 litre fuel sample in post-qualifying scrutineering.
Auto Motor und Sport said only one or two fuel samples are actually checked after qualifying at Grands Prix.
Competitors could, therefore, genuinely "run the risk" of using less fuel than is allowed in Q3, if the penalty for being caught is relatively light, Whiting argued.
He recalled last year's German Grand Prix, when Sebastien Buemi was sent to the back of the grid because his fuel sample showed irregularities.
As it was not possible to check if the illegal fuel had also been used in Q1 and Q2, the Toro Rosso driver had to be disqualified from qualifying, Whiting argued.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article D'Ambrosio linked with Massa's 2012 seat
Next article Pirelli speicial feature - Cracking the barcode
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Lewis Hamilton
Fred Vasseur reveals two costly moments that denied Ferrari US GP double podium
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
13 h
Fred Vasseur reveals two costly moments that denied Ferrari US GP double podium
Charles Leclerc reacts to Ferrari fear: 'We know what line not to cross'
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Charles Leclerc reacts to Ferrari fear: 'We know what line not to cross'
More from
McLaren
Why McLaren gave team order to Oscar Piastri in F1 US GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
17 h
Why McLaren gave team order to Oscar Piastri in F1 US GP
Who slept worst last night: Lando Norris
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Who slept worst last night: Lando Norris
Latest news
Ducati: “Marc Marquez has asked for guarantees to go to Qatar, while others stay silent”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
23 min
Ducati: “Marc Marquez has asked for guarantees to go to Qatar, while others stay silent”
Red Bull reveals when 'silly' problems affecting Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar can be fixed
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
Red Bull reveals when 'silly' problems affecting Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar can be fixed
Manthey acknowledges IMSA to be "tougher than expected" despite two wins
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 13 h
Manthey acknowledges IMSA to be "tougher than expected" despite two wins
How a philosophy shift brought BMW to new heights in 2026
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 13 h
How a philosophy shift brought BMW to new heights in 2026
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe