McLaren deny victimisation

"We have got to accept it and move on," says team CEO

Last updated: 23rd June 2008

martin whitmarsh mclaren f1 ceo 14/3/2008

Whitmarsh: moving on

There was a discussion. We noted that it had happened and we gave an opinion. The stewards had a different opinion.

McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh
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McLaren Mercedes' Martin Whitmarsh has rubbished suggestions that a FIA conspiracy against the team is the reason why they have incurred three penalties in two races.

The spate of punishments for McLaren began in Canada when Lewis Hamilton was penalised for crashing into the back of Kimi Raikkonen in the pit lane after failing to stop for the red light.

As a result, the Briton was awarded a ten-place grid penalty for the French Grand Prix.

Hamilton's team-mate Heikki Kovalainen then joined him on the punishment list when he was handed a five-place penalty for blocking Mark Webber during qualifying at Magny-Cours.

Then, attempting to come through the field from 13th on the grid, Hamilton was handed a drive through penalty after cutting part the Imola chicane when passing the Toro Rosso of Sebastian Vettel on lap one of Sunday's race.

The penalty compromised Hamilton's race and, in the event, he finished out of the points in 10th place.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis later spoke out against the penalty, telling ITV1: "In our opinion, Lewis was already past him (when he went off). He didn't gain any road position."

Frustrations

Dennis's reaction led to suggestions in the paddock that McLaren feel that the FIA are picking on them. However, McLaren CEO Whitmarsh has denied this.

"I'm sure Ron didn't indicate that really," Whitmarsh said, when asked if Dennis was hinting at a conspiracy against McLaren.

"He has the frustrations that happen immediately after the race. We had three penalties this weekend, we have got to accept it and move on."

Nevertheless, Whitmarsh spoke out against the penalty, adding: "I think we have got to accept that the stewards have got a quieter time than us, and they got more information, and they have got to make the decision that they think is right.

"We didn't see it like that, but we didn't have the information that they had.

"There was a discussion. We noted that it had happened and we gave an opinion. The stewards had a different opinion."

As for Hamilton, he refused to comment on whether or not he thought McLaren were being victimised.

"I'm not going to answer that," he said.