Formula 1: McLaren has avoided punishment despite being found to have been in possession of a confidential Ferrari document at a six-hour hearing of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris.
The FIA confirmed this afternoon that there will be no penalty due to insufficient evidence. However, if the information in the document is found to be used in the future, McLaren could face the ultimate exclusion from this year's championship, and also in 2008.
"The WMSC is satisfied that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was in possession of confidential Ferrari information and is therefore in breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code," a statement read this afternoon.
"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.
"But 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 Vodafone 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 decision comes despite the recent discovery of an 800 page Ferrari engineering document in the possession of chief McLaren designer Mike Coughlan. Coughlan has been suspended by McLaren, who claimed that no other employee was aware of the document.
The information in the document was sufficient to design, engineer, build, check, test, develop and/or run a 2007 Ferrari Formula One car.
Had the British team, who lead both the drivers' and constructors' championship, been found guilty they could have been docked points or even disqualified from the championship.
Nigel Stepney, who Ferrari dismissed as their head of performance development, and Coughlan, are the men accused of leaking and receiving the confidential information respectively and their futures will now be decided by the FIA.
The WMSC statement continued: "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."