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Journalism of Courage
Formula One8217;s governing body cleared the McLaren team of any wrongdoing today in its 1-2 finish at the Monaco Grand Prix. FIA opened an investigation on Monday into possible rules violations after the team ordered Lewis Hamilton not to challenge Fernando Alonso in Sunday8217;s race.
FIA dropped the case today after studying the radio traffic between the team and its drivers and the FIA observer8217;s report from the race. 8220;It is clear that McLaren8217;s actions during the 2007 Monaco GP were entirely legitimate and no further action is necessary,8221; FIA said in a statement.
FIA banned so-called 8220;team orders8221; after Rubens Barrichello was told by
Ferrari to allow teammate Schumacher to pass him to win the 2002 Austrian GP.
McLaren team principal Ron Dennis said after Sunday8217;s race he asked Hamilton to slow down because of the tight street circuit in Monte Carlo. FIA ruled today that the team and drivers did nothing wrong. 8220;It8217;s standard procedure for a team to tell its drivers to slow down when they have a substantial lead,8221; the statement said.
8220;This is in order to minimise the risk of technical or other problems. team strategy because they had a substantial advantage.They did nothing which could be described as interfering with the race result.8221;
