Friday 10th April 2009
Lewis Hamilton could face the FIA's World Motor Sport Council without Dave Ryan as the FIA cannot force the former McLaren man to attend the April 29th hearing.
Earlier this week McLaren announced that Ryan had been fired from his role as sporting director for his part in the Australian GP 'liargate' scandal. The announcement came just hours after the team learnt that they would have to face an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council to answer five charges relating to Hamilton and Ryan misleading the Melbourne race stewards.
"The FIA has jurisdiction only over its licence holders and their employees," a FIA source told The Guardian. "We cannot compel Dave Ryan to attend or give evidence if he feels unwilling to do so. We have yet to hear precisely who will be representing the McLaren team in attending the meeting."
Meanwhile, the source also confirmed reports that neither Hamilton nor Ryan were willing to change their story that the Brit did not slow down, confusing Jarno Trulli into overtaking Hamilton despite touring behind the Safety Car in Australia.
"First, Lewis heard the radio exchange. It appeared that the strategy (Hamilton and Ryan's) was to be extremely vague and not be very direct with the answers," the FIA source said.
"Then the interview where he (Hamilton) said 'I was told to let him past' was played. At this point both got very uncomfortable, but still denied that's what actually happened."
It is not yet known what punishment, if any, could be handed to McLaren. However, there is some speculation that the team could face a ban from the World Motor Sport Council at the April 29th hearing.
Source : Planet F1
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