From GMM
A spokesman for Formula 1's governing body (FIA) late Thursday would not rule out "further action" against team McLaren and its star driver Lewis Hamilton.
Following a reconvened stewards hearing at Sepang, the reigning world champion was excluded from the results of the Australian grand prix, having been found guilty of "deliberately misleading" the Melbourne inquiry.
"We could not rule out further action at this stage," the spokesman said in Malaysia.
It is Hamilton and McLaren's breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code that could carry penalties ranging from reprimands to total exclusion from the championship.
Rumours at Sepang suggested the matter could be referred by the FIA to the World Motor Sport Council.
McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh, however, insists that neither the team nor McLaren "lied".
"I don't know what they meant by (deliberately misleading), you'd have to ask them," he said as he addressed swarms of media in the paddock.
"They believe that the omission of the information about the radio conversation between the team and Lewis was withheld and that is what they believe was misleading."
Triple world champion Niki Lauda told the German broadcaster RTL that he considers it "the biggest joke of all time" that the FIA took four days to come to a definitive ruling about the incident.
photo:McLaren
A spokesman for Formula 1's governing body (FIA) late Thursday would not rule out "further action" against team McLaren and its star driver Lewis Hamilton.
Following a reconvened stewards hearing at Sepang, the reigning world champion was excluded from the results of the Australian grand prix, having been found guilty of "deliberately misleading" the Melbourne inquiry.
"We could not rule out further action at this stage," the spokesman said in Malaysia.
It is Hamilton and McLaren's breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code that could carry penalties ranging from reprimands to total exclusion from the championship.
Rumours at Sepang suggested the matter could be referred by the FIA to the World Motor Sport Council.
McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh, however, insists that neither the team nor McLaren "lied".
"I don't know what they meant by (deliberately misleading), you'd have to ask them," he said as he addressed swarms of media in the paddock.
"They believe that the omission of the information about the radio conversation between the team and Lewis was withheld and that is what they believe was misleading."
Triple world champion Niki Lauda told the German broadcaster RTL that he considers it "the biggest joke of all time" that the FIA took four days to come to a definitive ruling about the incident.
photo:McLaren