McLaren can fear the worst!

On April 29 in Paris, just after the Bahrain Grand Prix, the team will have to answer five charges. McLaren following the “lie” affair perpetrated by Lewis Hamilton and sports director Dave Ryan:

– on March 29, 2009, lied to the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix by denying the existence of instructions given to the number 1 car of Hamilton, to let the car number 9 of Trulli pass, while both cars were under yellow flags.

– provided support to world champion driver Hamilton and confirmed his false statement to the commissioners.

– despite knowing that these false statements would have a direct impact on the outcome? an unfair penalty against a driver and a rival team?, did not attempt to rectify the situation, although contacted by the FIA.

– on April 2, 2009, during the second hearing with the stewards of the Australian Grand Prix (in Malaysia), did not attempt to correct the false declarations of March 29. On the contrary, although allowed to listen to the recording of the instructions given to Hamilton to let Trulli pass, persisted in lying without taking the opportunity to correct her statements.

– on April 2, 2009, despite knowing that the statements of the driver Hamilton were false, continued to affirm that they were true and to support him.

The charges being heavy and proven, the McLaren team incurs sanctions which can range from a large financial penalty to the suspension of several Grands Prix including a suspension of the Manufacturer's and/or Driver's championship(s) or a Pure and simple exclusion of the Manufacturer(s) and/or Driver(s) from the championship. The affair is all the more serious than “Stepneygate” – the espionage affair for which McLaren was fined $100 million and lost its championship points in 2007? is still on everyone's minds.