The FIA has issued McLaren with a suspended 3 race ban after the team admitted it’s guilt to the World Motorsport Council.

In a statement issued just moments ago the FIA said:

“Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren Team Principal, Mr Martin Whitmarsh, addressed the WMSC and the change in culture which he made clear has taken place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deems appropriate.

“That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races of the FIA Formula One World Championship. This will only be applied if further facts emerge regarding the case or if, in the next 12 months, there is a further breach by the team of article 151c of the International Sporting Code.”

The finding means the team will be on the grid at Barcelona and Lewis Hamilton can continue his defence of his World title.

Martin Whitmarsh, Team Principal for McLaren said in a statement released by the team “I would like to thank the FIA World Motor Sport Council members for affording me the opportunity to answer their questions this morning. We are aware that we made serious mistakes in Australia and Malaysia, and I was therefore very glad to be able to apologise for those mistakes once again. I was also pleased to be able to assure the FIA World Motor Sport Council members that we had taken appropriate action with a view to ensuring that such mistakes do not occur again.”

Of interest is the decision by the FIA not to impose a financial penalty on the team. In these tough economic times a large fine may have been just enough to push engine supplier Mercedes to re-examine their continued involvement with the sport.

So the question needs to be asked, was the suspended 3 race ban adequate punishment for McLaren?

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