McLaren escape penalty but threat remains

Formula One leaders McLaren emerged unscathed on Thursday from a hearing into a spying controversy that threatened to change the face of the championship.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that there was insufficient evidence they had benefited from leaked Ferrari data found at the home of their chief designer
"We therefore impose no penalty," it said.
However the world governing body warned after the hearing in Paris that the Mercedes-powered team could still be kicked out of this and next year's championship if fresh proof emerged against them.
McLaren are 27 points clear of Ferrari with seven races remaining in a championship led by their 22-year-old British rookie Lewis Hamilton.
His team mate, double world champion Fernando Alonso, is two points adrift, with Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa third and a further nine points back.
McLaren team boss Ron Dennis, who attended the hearing in Paris, told reporters he was "not completely comfortable with the outcome but the punishment fits the crime."
SPY SAGA
The extraordinary meeting of the FIA world motor sport council said it was satisfied McLaren were in possession of confidential Ferrari information, in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code.
However it added there was "insufficient evidence that this information was used in such a way as to interfere improperly with the FIA Formula One World Championship."
Italian Luigi Macaluso, a member of the 25 man council, told the Gazzetta dello Sport Web site: "There was not the proof. We could not have done more."
But with legal action pending in Italy and England against suspended McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan and former Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney, the FIA refused to let McLaren off the hook.
"If it is found in the future that the Ferrari information has been used to the detriment of the championship, we reserve the right to invite...McLaren back in front of the WMSC where it will face the possibility of exclusion from not only the 2007 championship but also the 2008 championship," the FIA said.
The 'spy saga' has gripped the glamour sport for weeks, with McLaren stunned by revelations about Coughlan and his cache of Ferrari data.
McLaren, who denied anyone else at the team was in the know before Ferrari told them on July 3, could have been excluded from the championship or docked points if found guilty of fraudulent conduct.
Ferrari's lawyers argued in a document submitted to the London High Court last week that it was 'likely' McLaren owed their championship lead to Coughlan obtaining some 780 pages of highly sensitive data from the Italian team.
Coughlan, who provided an affidavit to the governing body and both teams, and Stepney could now face long bans from international motorsport.