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BARCELONA, Spain - McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh's poor understanding of Formula 1 rules ultimately cost Lewis Hamilton his chance of winning the 2012 Spanish GP.
Whitmarsh told Hamilton to stop on the Catalunya track after winning pole position during the qualifying because he was worried that his driver could not provide a complete fuel sample.
Hamilton's move was in breach of F1 rules as drivers must have enough fuel left to get back to the garages and provide a sample.
Whitmarsh says he was wrong as Hamilton's car met those requirements: "I didn't anticipate, as a consequence, that we would be starting from back of the grid. In hindsight, I should have called it a different way."
Hamilton finished eighth after starting 24th.
Whitmarsh told Hamilton to stop on the Catalunya track after winning pole position during the qualifying because he was worried that his driver could not provide a complete fuel sample.
Hamilton's move was in breach of F1 rules as drivers must have enough fuel left to get back to the garages and provide a sample.
Whitmarsh says he was wrong as Hamilton's car met those requirements: "I didn't anticipate, as a consequence, that we would be starting from back of the grid. In hindsight, I should have called it a different way."
Hamilton finished eighth after starting 24th.