McLaren's "Team Orders" to be investigated by FIA

The FIA has announced that it 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. This is based on claims made mainly in the media that the team played its race strategy in such a way as to help Fernando Alonso to win the race, rather than Lewis Hamilton.

The FIA will now review all the available evidence, including any radio calls between the cars and the pits and whatever other data is available. The FIA says it is simply doing its job and if that makes it unpopular that is an unfortunate part of the role of being the regulator. The FIA says that the rules were changed in 2002 after the mess in Austria when Rubens Barrichello backed off to allow Michael Schumacher to win the race.

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FIA new rule package to be complete by 2011

The FIA has sent out a new briefing note to the Formula 1 Manufacturers’ Advisory Committee regarding the technical plans for Formula 1 in 2011 and beyond. The package was dreamed up by Tony Purnell and Peter Wright and reviewed by Professor Neville Jackson, the Technical Director of the Ricardo company. The FIA is working with Ricardo to run simulations and to review strategy in the light of Ricardo's experience in mainstream automotive research and development. The document we have obtained says that discussions are still going on and that a Power-train Working Group will be formed to assist the FIA in detailing the technical regulations. The aim is to have to 2011 regulations settled by the end of the year.

The FIA says that the changes are needed because they need to lower costs in F1 and to react to public concern about the environment. Research and development relevant only to Formula 1 will be discouraged, whereas that which has relevance to road car development will be encouraged. The FIA says it will overtly encourage energy-efficient power-train development and contrain many other areas of the cars. It will also reduce waste by requiring parts to be used at more races.

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Did McLaren Favour Alonso Over Hamilton at the Monaco GP?

In the aftermath of a processional race in which the two McLaren drivers finished first and second with ease, but without fighting each other, Dennis said that McLaren did not favour the 25-year-old Spaniard against the 22-year-old British rookie.

He spoke out after being questioned strongly on the team's strategy and team orders, particularly as Alonso, on pole position, began the race in a car that carried five laps less fuel than Hamilton.

This meant that Alonso was not only in a lighter car for qualifying on Saturday, but also in a lighter, faster car for the first part of the race.

Hamilton accepted this after the race with a long face when he said: "I am in car number two so I am the number two driver."

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Gambling, Luck and the Formula 1 race in Monaco

Gambling will only get you so far. It is nice to win but a lot of the time luck has nothing to do with it. You win by working at it, doing the homework and not because the cards fell in your favour.

Monaco is a city built on a casino, on the foundation that luck can bring you everything you need. But on Sunday in Monte Carlo luck had nothing to with it. McLaren won the event because the team has worked for it. T

he fact that Fernando Alonso took victory in the event meant that Lewis Hamilton was second. He seemed happy with that. When you are in your fifth Grand Prix and have finished on the podium in all five, you are still excited to be there but there was something about the smiles and the body language involved that hinted that Lewis would have been happier to have won.

Everyone likes to win but there are times when luck has nothing to do with it.

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