FIA outline charges after Indy debacle

Formula One's governing body the FIA have today detailed exactly why they have charged seven F1 teams with bringing the sport into disrepute.

The seven teams – Renault, McLaren, Williams, Toyota, Red Bull, Sauber and BAR - ordered their cars to pull into the pits before Sunday’s United States Grand Prix began due to concerns over the safety of their Michelin tyres.

The FIA have called all seven to appear before their world motorsport council next Wednesday to face charges under article 151c of the international sporting code, which governs bringing the sport into disrepute.

Today the FIA published identical letters sent by their sporting secretary general Pierre de Coninck to each of the seven team principals, spelling out why they were being charged.

In the letter they claim teams “failed to ensure you had a supply of suitable tyres”, “wrongly refused to allow your cars to start the race” and “wrongly refused to allow your cars to race subject to a speed restriction in one corner which was safe for such tyres as you had available”.

The letter details a more general accusation that the teams “combined with other teams to make a demonstration damaging to the image of Formula One by pulling into the pits before the start of the race”.

All seven teams will face a further charge of contravening Formula One protocol by not informing stewards of their intention not to race.