P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The FIA agreed to an independent steward overseeing the 2007 F1 drivers’ championship finale in Brazil, as revealed on October 11 that year, to ensure “nothing wrong” befell Fernando Alonso in his fight with McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton — and Kimi Raikkonen.
During the 2007 season, the strained relationship between Fernando Alonso and McLaren led to the FIA appointing an independent steward for the Brazilian Grand Prix to ensure fairness between Alonso and his rookie teammate Lewis Hamilton. The decision came after complaints and suspicions of bias against Alonso in qualifying sessions. This move was unprecedented in modern F1 history, reflecting the toxic atmosphere within McLaren as both drivers fought for the championship. Heading into the final race in Brazil, Hamilton held a slim four-point lead over Alonso, with Kimi Raikkonen also in contention for Ferrari. Alonso’s suspicions of mistreatment at McLaren had been growing, especially after contentious incidents like the one in Hungary where he impeded Hamilton in qualifying. The escalating tensions ultimately led to McLaren’s exclusion from the constructors’ championship and a hefty fine. Despite the turmoil, McLaren’s team principal Ron Dennis attempted to maintain a façade of normalcy ahead of the critical race in Brazil, emphasizing the importance of allowing Alonso and Hamilton to race each other equally.
