McLaren suspend Ryan over Hamilton mix-up
Lewis Hamilton discussing race strategy with McLaren's engineers
Also In The News
|
Frank Hadden has stepped down as Scotland coach as a result of yet another poor Six Nations campaign. |  |
Friday, 03, Apr 2009 10:30
The McLaren formula one team have announced the suspension of sporting director Dave Ryan in the wake of Lewis Hamilton's exclusion from the Australian grand prix.
Ryan's radio instructions to Hamilton to allow Trulli to pass him under safety car conditions led to the Briton being stripped of his third-place finish in Melbourne.
And after the director's failure to disclose this information to the race stewards at Trulli's FIA disciplinary hearing last Sunday, McLaren have opted to punish their employee - apparently in a bid to deflect further sanctions against Hamilton.
Team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: "In my 20-odd years working for McLaren, I doubt if I've met a more dedicated individual than Davey.
"He's been an integral part of McLaren since 1974 and has played a crucial role in the team's many world championship successes since that time.
"However, his role in the events of last Sunday, particularly his dealings with the FIA stewards, has caused serious repercussions for the team, for which we apologise.
"Therefore, I suspended him this morning and he has accepted this."
Hamilton will look to recover from last week's setback - and get his first world championship points on the board - at this weekend's Malaysian grand prix in Sepang.