McLaren could be banned from races - Ecclestone

Yesterday, the FIA stated that the McLaren Mercedes F1 Team was summoned for an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on 29 April to explain themselves for the lie-gate scandal. According to F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, McLaren could be banned from races.

Ecclestone declared to the newspaper 'Express' that this is yet another serious charge for the McLaren team and this less than two years after the espionage affair. Mr. E said: "It is never good for anyone if you are back in court quickly for something similar.

The FIA has many possibilities to punish McLaren for lying to the stewards: the team could be banned from several races, total exclusion from the championship or huge financial penalties. Talking about the possible sanctions for the Woking-based outfit, Ecclestone said: "There are many options open if the charge sticks and it would be a terrible thing if any team were banned from races. But it could happen."

In 2005, BAR Honda was banned for two races for fielding a trick fuel tank and in 2007 McLaren had to pay a fine of 100 million dollars after the espionage case.