Formula 1 team McLaren has been given a suspended three-race ban for bringing the sport into disrepute after Dave Ryan and Lewis Hamilton lied to stewards at the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix.

After a hearing of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Wednesday in Paris, the FIA announced that since Team McLaren had admitted to the offences and made clear that there had been a change of "culture" at the team (with the departure of Ron Dennis, for example), it has suspended the sentence that it deemed appropriate.

"Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren Team Principal, Mr Martin Whitmarsh, addressed the WMSC and the change in culture which he made clear has taken place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deems appropriate," a statement issued by the FIA says.

"That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races of the FIA Formula One World Championship. This will only be applied if further facts emerge regarding the case or if, in the next 12 months, there is a further breach by the team of article 151c of the International Sporting Code."


Photo Credit : WRI2