McLaren fined $50.000 after investigation
The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team has received a $50.000 fine from the Italian GP stewards. The stewards started an investigation today as McLaren ran a new lightweight gearbox in Hungary without undergoing a crash test. With this McLaren breached articel 16.1.2 of the technical regulations: "Any significant modification introduced into any of the structures tested shall require that part to pass a further test".
In a statement, the stewards said: "It was the view of the FIA that the changes made to the original gearbox were 'significant.
"The view of the Stewards is that the components having been satisfactorily tested indicate that the cars complied with the technical configuration required when they raced in Hungary.
"Nothing in this decision is to be taken as condoning the practice of retrospective impact testing resulting in the use of untested components but in the particular circumstances of this case no further sanction will be applied."
The investigation is another setback for McLaren as they are still involved in the ongoing espionage case and as they have appealed their Hungarian penalty.
