Formula One:McLaren, stripped of all their constructors' points over the spying controversy, have dropped an appeal against a penalty imposed at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August.

McLaren lost 15 constructors' points from that race after the Spaniard Fernando Alonso impeded his British team-mate Lewis Hamilton in qualifying.

They had been expected to drop the appeal after being fined €72 million for their role in the spying controversy with Ferrari.

But they had hesitated to do so because of the possibility the extra points could affect the notional standings and be worth several million dollars.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said McLaren had notified them yesterday they wished to withdraw the appeal, which would have been heard in Paris today.