Whitmarsh denies McLaren breaching constructor definition

Martin Whitmarsh has fended off claims teams like McLaren are already breaching the current definition of a F1 ’constructor’.

The issue is on the agenda for this week’s F1 Commission meeting in Geneva, with the possible outcome to be the legalisation of the sale of entire ’customer cars’ to small teams.

Whitmarsh, the McLaren and FOTA chief, is opposed.

But the proponents, understood to be powered by Ferrari, will reportedly argue on Thursday that McLaren for example already shares its intellectual property with customer teams including Force India and Virgin.

Whitmarsh rejects the link.

"Our agreement with Force India has been approved by the FIA and FOM," he said, referring to the technology deal in place with Vijay Mallya’s team.

"It is a collaboration in some areas in which third-party services are allowed," insisted Whitmarsh, referring to transmission and hydraulics.

As for the deal with Virgin, this covers mainly the renting of infrastructure.

"For us this is a business model that is within the rules," he is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.