The Chinese Grand Prix

A belated note on the Chinese Grand Prix, which was held last weekend: how nice it was to see a race go the distance! Unfortunately, the rain that ruined the Malaysian Grand Prix turned up again to do its best to turn Shanghai into a skidfest.

I have just been reading an excellent article on the BBC website regarding McLaren's appearance before the F.I.A next Wednesday. In case you aren't aware, McLaren are charged with lying to the Stewards in Australia over the fact that it told Lewis Hamilton to let Toyota's Jarno Trulli repass him during the safety car period when Trulli ran his car wide allowing Hamilton to pass him and then failed to tell the stewards this when they investigated Trulli's otherwise illegal manoeuvre after the race. 

The man who told Hamilton to let Trulli pass him and then not tell the stewards that he had done so was Dave Ryan, McLaren's Sporting Director, was forced to resign as a result of the matter. The team's former principal, Ron Dennis, has cut all ties with the F1 team. Ostensibly this is because he has moved to another part of the McLaren Group but it is popularly believed that Dennis' exile was part of McLaren's attempt to placate the F.I.A.

Previously, I argued that Ryan had been dealt with too harshly, that his 35 years of work with the team surely outweighed this single error. I still hold that view. If Ron Dennis has been forced out by the FIA then that too is shameful.

The BBC article asks how the F.I.A will regard 'Ryan-gate'

The issue will be how seriously the World Council takes it. Is this akin to a footballer diving in the penalty area, or should it be seen as bringing the entire sport into disrepute - a catch-all phrase in the F1 regulations that has been used in any number of cases in the past?

To my mind the matter is clear. McLaren sought to gain a simple competitive advantage through lying to the stewards. Therefore, what they did was the Formula One equivalent of the diving footballer. That people should be losing their jobs over the matter is ridiculous.

I suppose if nothing else though we should be grateful that in Formula One we have a governing body that has the muscle and willpower to stand up for the sport. If only the F.A. were able to do the same towards footballers who dive.