| McLaren has put its foot in it again with the | | | | Trulli was penalized after the race for passing |
| shenanigans at the Australian Grand Prix. There | | | | Hamilton while the safety car was out. Trulli |
| has been endless commentary on the right and | | | | balked and said Hamilton slowed and let him past. |
| wrong of the situation, but few have pointed out | | | | McLaren was called to the stewards. Sporting |
| the bigger picture issue. Simply put, what was | | | | Director Dave Ryan and Lewis Hamilton went to |
| McLaren possible thinking it was gaining? | | | | the meeting. When asked if they had discussed |
| Let's take a look at what happened on the | | | | letting Trulli by or decided to do it, Ryan and |
| offhand chance you are not aware. The Australian | | | | Hamilton said no. The only problem was they |
| Grand Prix was the first race of the season. | | | | were lying and the radio transcript proved as |
| McLaren Mercedes has already determined its | | | | much. Hamilton was booted from the results. |
| new car was not competitive to the extent that | | | | McLaren has been called in front of the FIA and |
| Norbert Haug had suggested the car would not | | | | Ryan has been fired. |
| make it out of the first qualifying session. It did, | | | | There is no doubt McLaren and Hamilton lied to |
| but just barely and there was no longer any | | | | the stewards. Hamilton has admitted as much and |
| doubt McLaren had got the design wrong and | | | | apologized to the stewards, Charlie Whiting and |
| probably blown the 2009 season. Then the race | | | | fans. The biggest question is what the punishment |
| happened. | | | | should be. Critics want McLaren banned. |
| The Australian Grand Prix is nearly as much about | | | | Supporters want nothing to happen. Both miss the |
| survival as it is performance. As the first race of | | | | bigger point. |
| the season, reliability issues and overaggressive | | | | Why did McLaren even do this? It was the first |
| drivers usually trim the field down to the point | | | | race of the year. The point difference between |
| that anyone just finishing earns championship | | | | third and fourth is a single point. McLaren had no |
| points. That's exactly what happened for McLaren. | | | | expectation of any points coming into the race |
| Lewis Hamilton drove from the back of the grid | | | | and should have been pleased with fourth place. |
| up to sixth place. With three laps left, Robert | | | | Some have argued that a single point can decide |
| Kubica and Sebastian Vettel through away podium | | | | the championship, but does anyone really think |
| positions by crashing into each other. Suddenly, | | | | McLaren has a chance this year? A bad car is a |
| Hamilton was fourth. | | | | bad car. No team in modern Formula One history |
| Now it gets strange. The safety car came out | | | | has ever been able to turn around a bad design. |
| because of all the debris on the track. Jarno Trulli | | | | The McLaren MP-18 was a dog and never saw |
| was in third place in his surprisingly competitive | | | | the track. Remember the year Ferrari missed the |
| Toyota. Being Jarno, he somehow managed to | | | | design and Schumacher drove around in the back? |
| drive off course and Hamilton stayed on track | | | | A bad car design just cannot be turned into a |
| and passed him. Trulli then came back on track. | | | | good one. It doesn't happen! |
| Hamilton then asked if he should let Trulli by and | | | | McLaren clearly got caught with their hand in the |
| the McLaren pit boss didn't know the rules. While | | | | cookie jar. The team should be punished as much |
| McLaren thrashed around in the pits, Hamilton let | | | | for its stupidity as its devious conduct. |
| Trulli by and they finished third and fourth. | | | | |