McLaren lose constructor points, and fined in ´spygate´ row
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PARIS, Sept 13, 2007 (AFP) - The McLaren Formula One team have been docked all of their points in the constructors´ championship for their role in an alleged spying affair on rivals Ferrari, the International Motoring Federation (FIA) have announced.
The FIA convened a meeting here Thursday to pore over allegations that McLaren, who have been dominating the world championship this season, benefited from a leaked 780-page dossier of secret Ferrari technical information.
The British-owned team were also fined 100 million dollars, although their star drivers - British rookie Lewis Hamilton and Spain´s reigning world champion Fernando Alonso - have not been punished.
Hamilton is currently leading the drivers´ championship while Alonso claimed victory at Monza last week to close the gap on his teammate to three points.
Ahead of this weekend´s Belgian Grand Prix, McLaren were in the lead of the constructors´ championship with 166 points, ahead of Italian rivals Ferrari (143) and BMW Sauber (86).