McLaren gag drivers as F1 spy controversy rages02.08.2007 18:00 SportsBy Alan Baldwin BUDAPEST (Reuters) - McLaren gagged Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Thursday to shield them from a spy controversy surrounding the Formula One leaders. Double world champion Alonso was withdrawn, with the permission of the governing body, from the scheduled International Automobile Federation (FIA) news conference at the Hungaroring. Hamilton's regular sessions with reporters were also cancelled, although the championship leading rookie went ahead with an engagement for title sponsor Vodafone in Budapest in the morning. With team chief Ron Dennis not arriving at the circuit until Friday, the team wanted to keep the drivers out of the firing line. McLaren, 27 points clear of Ferrari in the championship, published a long and hard-hitting letter on Wednesday in response to the Italian team's allegations about their involvement in the controversy gripping the sport. Uncertainty still hangs over the Mercedes-powered team's title prospects, despite an FIA hearing last week which decided not to impose any penalty on them for unauthorised possession of Ferrari information. If the appeal court were to overturn the World Motor Sport Council verdict, McLaren could face sanctions ranging from a reprimand to exclusion from the championship. The initial verdict triggered fury at Ferrari, who maintain that McLaren have gained from significant leaks of information. Continued... Source: reuters.comwww.alllee.com |
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