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F1: Team McLaren sent apologies to FIA

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

The 'lie-gate' saga has continued to be a topic in the Bahrain paddock, as McLaren's World Motor Sport Council grilling looms for next Wednesday.

The latest twist in the scandal is the leaking to the press of a letter from Martin Whitmarsh (photo) to Max Mosley, in which the McLaren chief acknowledges that McLaren broke the rules and groveling apologises.

"Certainly, there's been no leak about it from us and I can't comment on it," Whitmarsh, asked about the Times newspaper leak, said in Bahrain.

The Guardian said the contrite letter is a break from McLaren's "previously oppositional stance towards motor sport's governing body".

Some have therefore interpreted the letter, and the leak, as a manoeuvre to reduce the prospect of a harsh penalty next week. According to rumours, the most likely punishments are either a 30-point reduction or race bans.

"It's very difficult to predict what the court will do," Red Bull's Christian Horner commented. "It would be a shame to lose a team for a couple of races but then again there has to be a penalty for lying to the stewards."
photo:WRI2
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
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