F1: Gearbox infringement costs McLaren �25,000

[Rory Phoulorie]

Thursday 6th September 2007

McLaren have been fined 50,000 US dollars (�25,000) by race stewards for a gearbox infringement during the Hungarian Grand Prix earlier this month.

It is just the latest incident to blight the team in what has so far been a troubled year, even though they currently lead both the drivers' and constructors' world championships.

McLaren ran a lightweight gearbox throughout the course of the Hungaroring weekend without it being subjected to crash tests.

Team officials believed at the time the changes to the gearbox were not 'significant' and so did not warrant the required tests.

The FIA acknowledge the term 'significant' is subjective and open to interpretation.

However, they claim McLaren delayed supplying the information to them, as they could have done so as early as mid-July - over two weeks prior to the Hungarian Grand Prix.

That deprived the FIA the opportunity prior to the race to consider the changes made and subsequent impact testing.

A statement read: "The stewards feel disclosure should be made in circumstances such as this and accordingly censure McLaren for choosing to rely on the results of their own computer modelling and denying the FIA the opportunity of requiring the results of an actual impact test before using the component concerned.

"McLaren are accordingly ordered to pay a fine of 50,000 US dollars."

McLaren ran the original gearbox at the Turkish Grand Prix 11 days ago.

The new lightweight gearbox has subsequently passed the crash tests and will be used for the remainder of the season, starting with this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.


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