Date:14/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/14/stories/2007091462162500.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

McLaren in big trouble

PARIS: The McLaren Formula One team has been docked all of its points in the constructors’ championship for its role in an alleged spying affair on rival Ferrari, the International Motoring Federation (FIA) has announced.

The team will also be excluded from next year’s constructors’ championship, FIA said in a statement.

The FIA convened a meeting here on Thursday to pore over allegations that McLaren, which has been dominating the World Championship this season, benefited from a leaked 780-page dossier of secret Ferrari technical information.

The British-owned team was also fined $100 million, although its star drivers — British rookie Lewis Hamilton and Spain’s reigning World champion Fernando Alonso — have not been punished.

Hamilton is currently leading the drivers’ championship while Alonso claimed victory at Monza last week to close the gap on his teammate to three points.

Ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, McLaren was in the lead of the constructors’ championship with 166 points, ahead of Italian rival Ferrari (143) and BMW Sauber (86). — Agencies