holy moly maclaren hit by 100 million dollar fine
The FIA has hit McLaren-Mercedes 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 the team's 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.
But the verdict means that McLaren's 23-point constructors' championship lead over Ferrari has been wiped, leaving the latter a full 57 points ahead of BMW Sauber.
Anupamaa
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