Waiting game for Hamilton

12 April 2012

Lewis Hamilton's Formula One world title hopes for 2008 are in limbo for another two months at least.

The World Motor Sport Council met in Monaco on Friday to discuss the FIA Technical Department's report on the validity of McLaren's 2008 car.

The WMSC have subsequently decided to call an EGM in Paris on February 14, at which McLaren, Ferrari and the other F1 teams will be afforded the chance to present their views on the report.

A statement released by FIA on Friday read: "In its decision of 13 September 2007, the WMSC instructed the FIA Technical Department to conduct an investigation of the preparatory work by McLaren on its 2008 car to determine whether that car incorporates any confidential Ferrari information.

"This investigation has been concluded and a detailed report submitted to the WMSC.

"The WMSC considers that McLaren, Ferrari and the other competitors in the FIA Formula One World Championship should be afforded the opportunity to make considered representations on the report at an extraordinary general meeting of the WMSC to be held on Thursday, 14 February, 2008 in Paris."

On September 13, McLaren were found guilty of fraudulent conduct, namely being in unauthorised possession of technical information belonging to Ferrari.

That resulted in the WMSC fining McLaren £50million and stripping the team of all their constructors' points for the 2007 season. The WMSC confirmed at the time that a full technical report on the 2008 McLaren car would also be undertaken to ensure no Ferrari data would be making its way on to next year's model.

That resulted in a group of inspectors from the FIA technical department carrying out a thorough search of McLaren's Woking-based headquarters.

The team's computers were looked at, while personnel were interviewed at length as the technical department left no stone unturned. It is apparent the FIA's technical department have discovered something untoward, otherwise McLaren would have been cleared.

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