McLaren have issued a statement to deny that they broke FIA rules by using a lightweight gearbox at the Hungarian Grand Prix - without first putting it through a crash test.
Autosport claims that the British team could have breached article 16.1.2 of the technical regulations which states: "Any significant modification introduced into any of the structures tested shall require that part to pass a further test."
Sources within the paddock report that Italian Grand Prix race stewards will investigate McLaren, even though the team did not make any secret of the fact that they used the component at the Hungaroring.
Statement
The team responded with a statement denying any wrongdoing, adding that they intend to use the new gearbox this weekend at Monza.
It read: "McLaren would like to emphasise that we have acted in entirely openly, in good faith and in complete compliance with the FIA rules and we are confident that the stewards will come to the same finding.
"On Thursday of the Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren voluntarily made the FIA aware that the team would be using a new reduced weight gearbox casing.
"Before qualifying the FIA asked McLaren to supply after the race weekend some documentation concerning the precise changes that had been made.
"This was supplied before the Turkish Grand Prix, but subsequently McLaren was advised by the FIA that in their opinion the revised gearbox needed to undergo a repeat crash test. As a result the team chose not to use the lightweight gearbox at the Turkish Grand Prix.
"On 30th August the McLaren lightweight gearbox passed both a push off test and an impact crash test without any problem under the supervision of the FIA. Consequently the team will use the lightweight gearbox at the Italian Grand Prix."
Penalty?
It is too early to say whether or not Ron Dennis' outfit have broken any regulations and if they have, it is unclear whether they will face any penalty.
Constructors' championship points cannot be deducted from McLaren for the Hungarian race because, after the qualifying saga involving Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, they have already been barred from scoring any.
With McLaren scheduled to appeal that particular outcome on September 19, they currently lead Ferrari by 11 points in the constructors' championship.
