PARIS (AP):

THE MCLAREN team was fined US$100 million and stripped of all of its points in the constructors' standings, yesterday, in the spy scandal that has rocked the sport.

Team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who are currently 1-2 in the championship standings, were not punished and can continue to compete for the season title.

McLaren could still be penalised for the 2008 championship, FIA said in a statement after a hearing. McLaren, which leads the current drivers' and constructors' standings, was punished by the World Motor Sports Council for allegedly using leaked secret technical documents belonging to F1 rival Ferrari.

"We have never denied that the information from Ferrari was in the personal possession of one of our employees at his home," team chief Ron Dennis said. "The issue is: was this information used by McLaren? This is not the case and has not been proven today. We believe we have grounds for appeal. But, of course, we are going to wait for the findings of the FIA which are going to be published. The most important thing is that we go motor racing this weekend, the rest of the season and next season."

Ferrari satisfied

The case broke open in July when a 780-page technical dossier on Ferrari cars was found at the home of McLaren's chief designer, Mike Coughlan, who was later suspended. Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney, who allegedly supplied the documents, was fired.

"Ferrari is satisfied that the truth has now emerged," the Italian team said in a statement.

Rookie English driver Hamilton leads the standings with 92 points, followed by two-time F1 champion Alonso of Spain with 89. Ferrari teammates Kimi Raikkonen (74) and Felipe Massa (69) are third and fourth. Four races remain in the season, starting with Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix. Alonso and Hamilton finished 1-2 in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix - at Ferrari's home track of Monza - to extend McLaren's lead in the constructors' championship to 23 points. McLaren had 166, Ferrari 143.

Under yesterday's ruling, McLaren loses all its constructors' points and is ineligible from scoring any more in the final races of the season. The US$100 million penalty includes McLaren's expected loss of income.