F1: McLaren Taking Alternate Bodywork To Bahrain

McLaren has brought a spare bodywork package to Bahrain in case FIA scrutineers deem its rear wing illegal ahead of the 2010 season opener.

The British team's managing director Jonathan Neale on Tuesday said he was disappointed a flight delay from Sao Paulo meant Charlie Whiting could not as scheduled inspect the MP4-25 at Woking before the first race of the season.

Instead, that inspection will take place at the Sakhir circuit on Thursday, amid concerns from Red Bull and Ferrari that the intake of air to the rear wing via the airbox through the engine cover might not conform with the rules.

Neale said the Woking based team is confident the controversial specification is legal, but has prepared another just in case.

"We're not taking a radically different package (to Bahrain) but you just never know what the stewards are going to do on the day," he told reporters in a teleconference.

"We get the best advice we can from the FIA in the interests of transparency. If the stewards decide on a different course of action, though, it's still our duty to go racing," said Neale.

"So we have a contingency, but I wouldn't put much effort into it and I'm not expecting it to be used," he added.

(GMM)