Legends blast McLaren decision

Formula One legends Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart tonight railed against the decision of the World Motor Sport Council to fine McLaren $100m and strip the team of their points in the Constructors Championship.

However, Hamilton and reigning world champion team-mate Fernando Alonso – who are just three points apart in this season’s championship race with four grands prix remaining – are clear to continue the race for the crown.

Moss, who will be 78 on Monday, said: “I’m absolutely staggered – this is terrible.

“The whole of motor racing has been shaken and the only thing they (the WMSC) have done right is to allow the drivers to keep points.

“Taking the points off the drivers would ruin the whole deal. McLaren are banned, fair enough – but I can’t believe a fine like that.

“Ron Dennis (McLaren team boss) is not an easy man but I feel he’s been done down I do really – I really do not believe he would know about it.

“Okay, he’s the captain of the ship but I would put a lot of my money on his integrity.”

Moss was critical of suspended McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan, understood to have received 780 pages of Ferrari technical information passed on to him by Nigel Stepney, sacked earlier this year as Ferrari’s head of performance development.

And Moss, who won 16 grands prix between 1955 and 1961, continued on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Obviously something should be done to the two guys in particular (Coughlan and Stepney).

“The damage they have done to the whole thing is unbelievable – but I’m not convinced McLaren were much enhanced by what they got.

“It’s awful for the public, we are seeing the best racing we’ve seen for years.”

As for Hamilton and Alonso – separated by just three points with four races to go, Moss added: “Lewis and Fernando are stunning drivers.

“I don’t know what the devil I would do if I were them.

“It’s not happened before and I hope it doesn’t happen again.

Former world champion Stewart was also critical of the punishment.

The Scot, who competed in Formula One between 1965 and 1973 and was world champion in 1969, 1971 and 1973, said: “Even if they were found guilty of the crime it does not justify this type of penalty.”

The $100m will go to the World Motor Sport Council.

And Stewart, now 68, added: “McLaren are not a poor company – but you have to ask where the money goes.”

“Does it go to the governing body? Have they just gained by a 100 million dollars – or does it go to charity?