06/03/2015
NEWS STORY
Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO dismisses talk of teams boycotting race over safety fears.
As speculation over Fernando Alonso's Barcelona test crash continues, some (German) media have outlets have talked of teams boycotting next weekend's season opener on safety grounds, citing fears that the electrical system associated with the McLaren-Honda's hybrid technology was at fault.
However, Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Andrew Westacott, has dismissed the boycott claim.
"We're talking to the teams, Formula One and the FIA multiple times every day and a boycott certainly hasn't been raised or discussed," he told the West Australian. "All the teams are coming to Melbourne; they're excited about the start of the new season, the freight is on its way, Formula One personnel are on site at Albert Park setting up the broadcast and from our perspective it's 100 per cent all systems go.
"We hold no fears about anything apart from containing the enthusiasm of the Australian public across the four days," he added.
The teams threatening the boycott - could they be the same teams that were threatening boycotting races at the end of 2014, or the teams claiming insufficient funding to start this season - say they are unhappy with the lack of information McLaren is sharing in terms of the circumstances surrounding Alonso's crash.
However, the Woking team stands by its original comments that "there is no evidence that indicates Fernando's car suffered mechanical failure of any kind".
The team also insisted: "We can disclose that no electrical discharge or irregularity of any kind occurred in the car's ERS system, either before, during or after the incident."
Meanwhile, according to the Daily Telegraph, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) has written its members today (Friday) assuring them that it will continue pressurising McLaren and the FIA in terms of the circumstances surrounding the crash.