http://www.tsn.ca/ctvnews/sportsstor...tory_id=218210
FIA handed the 2007 constructors championship to Ferrari after stripping McLaren of all their points this season for their role in the spygate affair.
Following a hearing before the World Motor Sport Council, McLaren have lost all their points in the constructors chase and have been fined a record $100-million US - the largest fine ever handed down in motorsport history.
However, the council decided that both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso would not penalized as a result of the FIA's decision to give drivers immunity in exchange for providing evidence. They will be able to continue fighting for the world championship but no member of the McLaren team will be allowed on the victory podium should either of them win in any of the remaining races this season.
As well the team will have to present their 2008 car for inspection before racing it next season to show that no intellectual property belonging to Ferrari has made its way onto the car. At that time, the WMSC will decide if further sanctions are necessary.
The ruling effectively hands Ferrari this year's constructors championship. Under the revised standings, Ferrari now leads BMW-Sauber by 57 points.
FIA said it would make public its reasons for the decision on Friday.
McLaren team boss Ron Dennis said he would wait until the full verdict is released before deciding on his next course of action.
"I do not accept that we deserved to be penalised in this way," said Dennis. "Today's evidence given to the FIA by our drivers, engineers and staff clearly demonstrated that we did not use any leaked information to gain a competitive advantage."
"Much has been made in the press and at the hearing today of emails and text messages to and from our drivers. The World Motorsport Council received statements from Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Pedro de la Rosa stating categorically that no Ferrari information had been used by McLaren and that they had not passed any confidential data to the team."
"The most important thing is that we will be going motor racing this weekend, the rest of the season and every season."
"We have got the best drivers and the best car and we intend to win the World Championship."
Asked if justice had been served, FIA president Max Mosley replied succinctly, "Yes".
A statement released by Ferrari said the team were satisfied with Thursday's outcome.
"In light of new evidence, facts and behaviour of an extremely serious nature and grossly prejudicial to the interest of the sport have been further demonstrated."
"Ferrari is satisfied that the truth has now emerged."
Hamilton was among the members of the McLaren team who appeared before the council on Thursday, however, he reportedly was not asked to testify at the hearing. He left the meeting roughly three hours after it started, presumably to get back to Belgium to begin preparations for this weekend's race.
Teammate Alonso was noticeably absent from the hearing, electing instead to attend a previously announced pre-race press conference in Belgium, where he was peppered with questions about the spy scandal.
"I am 100 percent concentrated in this paddock, in this track and winning this race," said Alonso, who refused to speculate about the outcome. "Other than that I will not have two seconds of thinking."
When asked why he didn't travel to Paris, as Hamilton did, the Spaniard replied: "No comment."
Former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn was in attendance for the Scuderia even though he is no longer a member of the team and is currently on a one year sabbatical.
Also present at the hearing as observers were representatives of Williams, Renault, Spyker and Red Bull.
Prior to today's verdict, a poll conducted on TSN.ca revealed 33-percent believed McLaren would be stripped of its constructors points. A combined 29-percent said McLaren would be thrown out of the 2007 and 2008 championship while 23-percent said they would only be fined. Only 15-percent said they would escape without any punishment.