The McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team on Thursday escaped sanctions in connection with a sabotage affair with rivals Ferrari by the ruling body FIA, due to insufficient evidence, according to dpa. "The WMSC (World Motor Sport Council) is satisfied that McLaren- Mercedes was in possession of confidential Ferrari information and is therefore in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code. "However, there is insufficient evidence that this information was used in such a way as to interfere improperly with the FIA Formula One World Championship. We therefore impose no penalty," the FIA said in a statement after a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council during which McLaren officials were heard. But the FIA warned McLaren that the case could be dealt with again in the case of new evidence. "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-Mercedes 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. McLaren lead Ferrari in the constructors standings after 10 of 17 races in 2007, and their pilots Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso top the drivers list. "The FIA confirmed what we said from the beginning. Our team has not profited from ideas or designs by a rival team," said Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug. McLaren team boss Ron Dennis said that the team was "not fully satisfied" with the ruling but Haug said the FIA threat was of no relevance. "We have not and we will not use ideas from the material - we don't know its content and we don't want to know it," he said. Former McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan received classified material from former Ferrari head of performance Nigel Stepney. McLaren insisted that the material was not known to other team officials and not used to alter the car. News reports said that Stepney told Coughlan about details of the Ferrari car ahead of the season. McLaren then called for a FIA clarification on the rules concerning car floors which reportedly resulted in a Ferrari design change. The FIA also said Thursday that Stepney and Coughlan will have to appear before FIA over the case. "The WMSC will also invite Mr Stepney and Mr Coughlan to show reason why they should not be banned from international motor sport for a lengthy period and the WMSC has delegated authority to deal with this matter to the legal department of the FIA," FIA said.
