Hamilton and McLaren already have paid the price
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We’re only two races into the Formula One season and we already have a scandal on our hands. I know, I know -- Formula One always has a scandal or two every year, but there’s been a lot of furor kicked up over defending world champion Lewis Hamilton allegedly lying to Australian Grand Prix stewards.
The McLaren driver admitted he ‘misled’ race officials after the March 29 race when they asked him whether he purposefully allowed Toyota driver Jarno Trulli to pass him while the race was under caution.
Trulli was initially stripped of his third-place finish, but the Italian driver was re-credited with his original result once Hamilton admitted he was instructed by his race engineer to let Trulli past. Hamilton was then disqualified.
Of course, in true Formula One fashion, this issue continues to drag on for some reason. Hamilton and his McLaren team bosses were ordered today to appear before the International Automobile Federation’s World Motor Sport Council on April 29 to address charges of lying. Knowing the FIA, I’m sure McLaren will be staring down a huge fine or a points penalty for allowing their star driver to tell yellow-flag tall tales.
Still, I don’t know why the FIA keeps riding this issue -- Hamilton was disqualified and McLaren sporting director, Dave Ryan, who told Hamilton to lie to the stewards, has been fired. What more needs to be done?
It seems as if Formula One’s governing body would rather re-address these trifling issues than focus on what’s really important -- improving the quality and entertainment value of the races. And if that’s really its biggest goal, then Formula One czar Bernie Ecclestone should be dragged into Place de la Concorde for his role in turning the Malaysian Grand Prix into some high-priced speedboat demonstration.
Hopefully, McLaren and Hamilton won’t be punished any further for their Down Under dirty deed. They made a mistake and paid the price, so let’s move on to other issues (like, when is Formula One coming back to the USA?).
-- Austin Knoblauch
