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McLaren have defended their use of a new lightweight gearbox in last month’s Hungarian Grand Prix without a prior crash test on the unit. The team have insisted that they did not breach any regulations, after claims that the matter is under investigation by stewards.

"McLaren would like to emphasise that we have acted in entirely openly, in good faith and in complete compliance with the FIA rules and we are confident that the stewards will come to the same finding,” said a team statement.

"On Thursday of the Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren voluntarily made the FIA aware that the team would be using a new reduced weight gearbox casing.

"Before qualifying the FIA asked McLaren to supply after the race weekend some documentation concerning the precise changes that had been made.

"This was supplied before the Turkish Grand Prix, but subsequently McLaren was advised by the FIA that in their opinion the revised gearbox needed to undergo a repeat crash test. As a result the team chose not to use the lightweight gearbox at the Turkish Grand Prix.

"On 30th August the McLaren lightweight gearbox passed both a push off test and an impact crash test without any problem under the supervision of the FIA. Consequently the team will use the lightweight gearbox at the Italian Grand Prix."

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian race, but the team did not score constructors’ championship points at the event as punishment for the qualifying pit-lane incident in which Hamilton was delayed by team mate Fernando Alonso.