Formula One's governing body, the FIA, are to investigate McLaren's victory at the Monaco Grand Prix after boss Ron Dennis orchestrated a team procession.
Sunday's race saw Fernando Alonso lead home team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a contrived one-two and now the FIA are to launch a probe into the victory for a "possible breach of the international sporting code."
A statement on the FIA's website, www.fia.com, read: ‘The FIA has launched an investigation into incidents involving the McLaren Mercedes team at the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix in light of a possible breach of the international sporting code.
‘The relevant evidence is under review and a further announcement will be made in due course.’
Prior to the announcement, Dennis maintained the outcome was a result of team strategy, rather than team orders.
Team orders are banned by the FIA after Rubens Barrichello was told to let Michael Schumacher win the Austrian Grand Prix in 2002.
Dennis insists there was nothing amiss with his plans for the 78-lap race around the streets of the Principality.
The 59-year-old catered for a potential safety-car incident, as had occurred in four of the previous five Monaco Grands Prix.
If one had taken place, Hamilton would have claimed victory.
As it was the 22-year-old was instructed "to take it easy" late on as he had closed to within 0.8seconds of Alonso.
That left a clearly unhappy Hamilton bemoaning his second-fiddle role, insisting: ‘I've number two on my car and I am the number two driver.’
It begs the question as to where the fine line comes between team orders and team strategy.
Dennis explained: ‘Team strategy is what you bring to bear to win a grand prix; team orders are what you bring to bear to manipulate a grand prix. ‘We do not, and have not, manipulated grands prix unless there are some exceptional circumstances.
‘For example in Australia (1998), someone tapped into our radio and instructed Mika Hakkinen to enter the pits.
‘He entered the pits, but I reversed that because that was unfair.
‘That was an outside influence influencing the outcome of the race.
‘That is one of the very rare occasions there's been a team order.
‘I don't feel uncomfortable with them, but I sleep easy.
‘I have a clear conscience; both with regard to that particular race and this race here (Monaco).’
For Hamilton, it is case of 'you might not like it, but you have to lump it,' as witnessed on Sunday.
It means the young Briton is now level on 38 points with Alonso, although the reigning world champion has the advantage by virtue of his two race wins this year.
Dennis – who may yet be called to explain his actions by the FIA added: ‘Lewis and Fernando enjoy being in a competitive team, and having competitive cars.
‘It doesn't matter who you are, if you're not in a competitive car, you're not going to win the race.
‘Lewis has been guided and supported through his career in the past, and that will continue into the future.
‘But one of the things you have to come to accept is that if you are a member of this grand prix team, for the vast majority of the time, there is equal opportunity for drivers to race.
‘But Monaco is not one of them.’
It would appear Hamilton will continue to have to make sacrifices for the good of the team.
It remains to be seen whether, as world champion, Alonso will one day also fall in line should the roles ever be reversed.
Dennis insisted: ‘Our job is to win races and win world championships.
‘That rarely, but occasionally, comes before having to allow the drivers to race.
At least Hamilton had the small consolation of handing his runner-up trophy to younger brother Nick, who has cerebral palsy.
Hamilton said: ‘My brother supports me at every race. It's good to have him there and to be a part of it.
‘I'm proud to have him with me, and it's great when he comes and I can give him my trophy to make him feel important, because he is.’
