OMEN
09-13-2007, 07:45 PM
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Hamilton: still in contention
The FIA has hit McLaren with an unprecedented $100 million fine and docked the team its constructors' championship points for the current season after finding them guilty of spying on rivals Ferrari.
However, after both drivers gave evidence in the case, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have escaped sanction, meaning they are free to chase this year's world drivers' title.
"The WMSC (World Motor Sports Council) has stripped Vodafone McLaren Mercedes of all constructors points in the 2007 FIA Formula One world championship and the team can score no points for the remainder of the season," the FIA said.
"Furthermore the team will pay a fine equal to $100 million (£49.2 million), less the FOM income lost as a result of the points deduction."
The WMSC has also withheld a decision regarding next year's constructors' championship until the team's 2008 car can be scrutinised to see whether it uses Ferrari intellectual property.
"The WMSC will receive a full technical report on the 2008 McLaren car and will take a decision at the December 2007 meeting after what sanction, if any, will be imposed on the team for the 2008 season," the statement added.
Hamilton leads Alonso by three points in the drivers' standings with just four races - including Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix - remaining.
The team had originally been found guilty of fraudulent conduct in July, after Ferrari's former head of performance development, Nigel Stepney, allegedly handed a 780-page dossier to McLaren designer Mike Coughlan.
However, on that occasion, the FIA decided there was insufficient evidence that McLaren had actually used the information to its advantage.
FIA president Max Mosley then referred the case to a Court of Appeal, but after fresh evidence surfaced - purported to be an email exhange between Alonso and test driver Pedro de la Rosa - a second WMSC meeting was instigated.
Skysports
Hamilton: still in contention
The FIA has hit McLaren with an unprecedented $100 million fine and docked the team its constructors' championship points for the current season after finding them guilty of spying on rivals Ferrari.
However, after both drivers gave evidence in the case, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have escaped sanction, meaning they are free to chase this year's world drivers' title.
"The WMSC (World Motor Sports Council) has stripped Vodafone McLaren Mercedes of all constructors points in the 2007 FIA Formula One world championship and the team can score no points for the remainder of the season," the FIA said.
"Furthermore the team will pay a fine equal to $100 million (£49.2 million), less the FOM income lost as a result of the points deduction."
The WMSC has also withheld a decision regarding next year's constructors' championship until the team's 2008 car can be scrutinised to see whether it uses Ferrari intellectual property.
"The WMSC will receive a full technical report on the 2008 McLaren car and will take a decision at the December 2007 meeting after what sanction, if any, will be imposed on the team for the 2008 season," the statement added.
Hamilton leads Alonso by three points in the drivers' standings with just four races - including Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix - remaining.
The team had originally been found guilty of fraudulent conduct in July, after Ferrari's former head of performance development, Nigel Stepney, allegedly handed a 780-page dossier to McLaren designer Mike Coughlan.
However, on that occasion, the FIA decided there was insufficient evidence that McLaren had actually used the information to its advantage.
FIA president Max Mosley then referred the case to a Court of Appeal, but after fresh evidence surfaced - purported to be an email exhange between Alonso and test driver Pedro de la Rosa - a second WMSC meeting was instigated.
Skysports