McLaren car verdict delayed by FIA

LONDON, England -- The World Motor Sport Council has deferred a ruling Friday on whether McLaren illegally used confidential data from Formula One rival Ferrari on its 2008 car.

Hamilton will not know whether his 2008 McLaren car has been cleared until a month before the opening race.

The council called an extraordinary general meeting for February 14 in Paris where McLaren, Ferrari and other F1 teams can respond to the FIA technical department's report on the 2008 McLaren car.

The decision means Lewis Hamilton, who finished second in the 2007 drivers' championship in his rookie season, will not know whether his 2008 car has been cleared until a month before the opening race.

McLaren was fined a record $100 million (euro72 million) in September and stripped of all points in the constructors' standings after a 780-page technical dossier on Ferrari cars was found at the home of McLaren's chief designer.

The FIA also said they would impose further sanctions if McLaren's 2008 car was found to be in breach of the regulations.

FIA inspectors have already carried out a thorough search of McLaren's headquarters in Woking, Surrey, but their findings have now been put on hold for two months.

If again found guilty, McLaren could be kicked out of next year's championship, or potentially start the season on minus points.

However, FIA president Max Mosley does not wish further ill on on team, saying: "I hope it will turn out there's absolutely nothing."

However, for the integrity of the sport, he concedes it would have been "utterly wrong" had the FIA not carried out a further investigation.

"Just suppose the 2008 McLaren incorporates everything from the 2007 Ferrari that McLaren had not already got themselves," said Mosley.

"If we want a level playing field, we've got to make sure, as far as we're able, that the 2008 McLaren doesn't incorporate any Ferrari intellectual property that's been illegitimately required.

"Some things they can legitimately observe in the pit-lane or whatever, but we're only interested in the illegitimate. The only way we could ascertain that was to have a major inquiry, which we've had, and to the best of my knowledge McLaren have fully co-operated.

"It meant getting forensic experts in there, looking at all their computers and interviewing relevant engineers," added Mosley.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis stated at the time of the Paris hearing that his team would be cleared to race for 2008 with no penalty.

His confidence is borne out by the fact McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh is proposing that Lewis Hamilton will lead the team on the track next year.

With Fernando Alonso quitting McLaren following a turbulent year, Hamilton is seen as the driver to spearhead their championship charge.

As much as McLaren operate an equality policy, Whitmarsh said: "The reality is Lewis is now an absolutely proven product. He can lead a team and he can be the talisman that can take us to a championship.

"With the team now, he's got the confidence, self-belief and knowledge."

McLaren later said it would cooperate with the FIA. "From the very beginning McLaren has provided the FIA with full access and complete co-operation, and remains confident no confidential information has been incorporated within the team's 2007 and 2008 cars," they confirmed in a statement. E-mail to a friend