McLaren let off lightly

Formula One team McLaren have been given a suspended three-race ban in relation to the lie-gate saga. McLaren admitted to deliberately misleading stewards at the Australian Grand Prix in March, according to the International Automobile Federation (FIA). Team principal Martin Whitmarsh attended the FIA hearing in Paris after McLaren were charged with five counts of bringing the sport into disrepute. The team saved themselves from a harsher punishment by what the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) saw as a pro-active response to the scandal in the sacking of race director, Dave Ryan. They also looked favourably on McLaren chief executive Ron Dennis stepping down from his role at the team. However, the WMSC appear to have taken into account a number of mitigating circumstances after McLaren pleaded guilty on all five counts of breaching the International Sporting Code. An FIA statement read: "Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh addressed the WMSC and the change in culture he made clear is taking place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deemed appropriate. "That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races (in the world championship). This will only be applied if further facts emerge regarding the case or if in the next 12 months there is further breach by the team."

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ITN | April 29, 2009

Tags:. .mitigating. .stewards. .federation. .fia. .misleading