FIA has 'good reason' for McLaren delay

McLaren had hoped to get the green light for their MP4-23 at last week's hearing of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), following an examination into the design to ensure that no Ferrari intellectual property had been used.

However, the WMSC decided to delay delivering a verdict until another scheduled meeting on February 14, 2008 - where McLaren, Ferrari and other teams will be allowed to make presentations

Although the exact reasons for the fresh hearing have not been specified, Mosley has hinted that something cropped up during the FIA's investigation of the 2008 McLaren.

Speaking in an interview with Auto Motor Und Sport, Mosley said: "It would be unfair of me to speak currently about the case. We would gladly today have liked to end this unfortunate chapter, but there was a report that makes a second hearing necessary.

"Believe me, if we let 26 people from around the world fly in, then we have good reasons for it."

Mosley said that McLaren had been made aware of the issues that will be discussed, and suggested that there was plenty of time for them to react to the matter before February.

"McLaren were informed early on about our doubts," he said. "They have sufficient time to react, should the doubt be confirmed."

And in the wake of some criticism about the varying penalties handed out to Renault and McLaren for spying charges, Mosley has once again insisted he has not been biased against McLaren and team boss Ron Dennis.

"I do not have a problem with Ron," he said. "I only want to hear the truth if we have to solve an internal problem. During the World Council meeting on July 26, I did not have the impression that he told us the truth."