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LONDON - Formula One's governing body opened an investigation on Monday (local time) into McLaren's one-two win in the Monaco Grand Prix amid a controversy over so-called 'team orders'.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that it was looking into incidents involving the Mercedes-powered team
"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," it added.
Double world champion Fernando Alonso won Sunday's showcase race, for the second year in a row, ahead of British rookie team mate Lewis Hamilton.
The two are now level on 38 points but Spaniard Alonso leads the championship on race wins.
Hamilton, who finished runner-up for the fourth race in a row, revealed afterwards that he had been told to ease off rather than put pressure on his team mate and possibly jeopardise the one-two.
Team orders, effectively manipulating the outcome of a race, have been banned since the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix where Ferrari ordered Brazilian Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher win.
Article 151 of the FIA's international sporting code declares that "any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally" is a breach of the rules.
However, McLaren team boss Ron Dennis denied any such manipulation.
"We don't have team orders, we had a strategy to win this race," he said on Sunday.
"I make no excuses for instructing the racing drivers to slow their pace after the first stop and to effect our strategy."
A team spokeswoman added on Monday: "McLaren are completely comfortable with the FIA's investigation into our race strategy and that all decisions taken both before and during the race were completely in compliance with the international sporting code."
Monaco is a circuit unlike any other, with unforgiving metal barriers lining a tight and twisty ribbon of asphalt around the city streets. One lapse of concentration under pressure can carry a very heavy price.
A FIA spokesman declined to say what possible sanction might be faced by the team, who lead Ferrari by 20 points in the championship after winning two of the season's five races so far, if found guilty of a breach.
British newspapers felt Hamilton had been let down.
"Hamilton ordered to hand Alonso victory," declared the Daily Telegraph in a headline.
"Hamilton is told to let Alonso win," agreed the Daily Mail.
- REUTERS