McLaren probed over possible `breach'

McLaren Mercedes drivers Fernando Alonso of Spain, right, and Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, take off their caps while national anthems are played during the winners ceremony following the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday at the Monaco race track. PHOTO: AP

Formula One team McLaren is being investigated for a possible rule breach at the Monaco Grand Prix after Fernando Alonso finished first ahead of McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton.

World motorsport's governing body, FIA, said in a statement on Monday it was reviewing evidence from Sunday's race. Alonso finished 4.095 seconds ahead of Hamilton, who was told by McLaren to slow down.

"He was obviously close to me, and I was told to take it easy," Hamilton said on Sunday. "At the end of the day, I am a rookie. I am in my first season in Formula One and I have finished second in only my first Monaco Grand Prix, so I really can't complain. I've got No. 2 on my car. I am the No. 2 driver."

Hamilton's fifth straight top-three finish in his debut F1 season helped him share with Alonso the top spot in the drivers' standings at 38 points.

McLaren leads the constructors' championship with 75 points, ahead of Ferrari with 56.

FIA said McLaren was being investigated for "a possible breach of the International Sporting Code" -- the rules that govern world motorsport.

The code states it will punish "any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally."

McLaren team principal Ron Dennis said he asked Hamilton to slow down because of the tight street circuit of Monte Carlo.

"A lot of people in England will feel there is some favoritism or penalty that is given to Lewis, but we are scrupulously fair at all times in the grand prix team," Dennis said in the Daily Telegraph on Monday.