KEY POINTS:
PARIS - They're out of the constructors' championship, but their two frontmen are still very much alive in the drivers' contest.
That's the situation that faces the McLaren Formula One motor racing team this morning.
The clear points race leader have been kicked out of the 2007 constructors'
title race and fined US$100 million ($143 million) in spying controversy involving Ferrari information.
However, the governing FIA ruled that championship leader Lewis Hamilton and team mate Fernando Alonso could keep their points in the drivers' contest.
"The WMSC (World Motor Sports Council) has stripped 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 US$100 million, less the FOM income lost as a result of the points deduction," it added.
Points gained by other teams so far this season would also not be affected, it added in a statement.
McLaren, one-two winners of last weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, were accused of having benefited from a dossier of Ferrari data found in the possession of now-suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan.
Asked by reporters whether justice had been done, the International Automobile Federation president Max Mosley answered: "Yes".
The decision effectively ensures Ferrari the constructors' championship but keeps the drivers' battle alive.
McLaren were 23 points ahead of Ferrari, who are in turn 57 clear of BMW Sauber.
Hamilton, the 22-year-old rookie sensation of the season, leads double world champion Alonso by three points with four races remaining.
"For the drivers we have made an exception because they have supplied evidence," Mosley was quoted as saying by Italy's ANSA news service.
It was not immediately clear how much the fine would ultimately be, but it was sure to be the biggest handed out in motorsport history.
The previous record was US$5 million handed out to the Turkish Grand Prix organisers last year for a podium ceremony controversy.
The FIA said the motor sport council would receive a full technical report on the 2008 McLaren car and will decide in December this year whether to impose any further sanction for that season.
The statement added that "No McLaren representative will be allowed on the podium should a McLaren driver win in any of the remaining races of the 2007 season."
It said full reasons for the decisions reached would be published on Friday.
McLaren were found guilty at a hearing in July of possession of unauthorised Ferrari material but escaped sanction after the WMSC ruled, to outrage in Italy, that there was insufficient evidence they had gained from it.
However, the team were warned then that they could be kicked out of this and next year's championship if new evidence was brought to light.
Ferrari said in a statement at the Belgian Grand Prix that they were "satisfied that the truth has now emerged".
However McLaren's engine partners Mercedes voiced dismay at the verdict and suggested they would appeal.
"This judgment comes as an extreme shock for all team members and, as demonstrated by the reactions of large parts of the public, the media and Formula One viewers, is a shock for large segments of the public as well," said motorsport head Norbert Haug.
"We will now fight with all our resolve in order to give a proper response on the circuit, as we last did in Monza, and to get justice before the court."
- REUTERS