McLaren apologize, hope to continue racing

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh apologized in person to Formula One's governing body on Wednesday and hoped his team could move on from a lying controversy that has threatened their season.

Arriving in a silver Mercedes at the International Automobile Federation (FIA)'s imposing Place de la Concorde headquarters, Whitmarsh delivered a statement of apology and left after less than an hour inside.

"We've made mistakes, we've apologized to the FIA and the public," he told reporters. "We await the decision."

Asked whether this was the end of the affair, the Briton — marking his 51st birthday in far from happy circumstances — replied: "I very much hope so. " hope that this will draw a line and we can carry on racing."

The FIA's 26-member world motor sport council must now decide how big a price McLaren, already struggling on the racetrack, have to pay for lying to stewards at the season-opening race in Australia last month. Reuters