Hamilton looks forward as McLaren are cleared

Lewis Hamilton is anxious to resume his quest to become world champion – after a day that left McLaren smiling and Ferrari fuming.

McLaren may have been found guilty of “fraudulent conduct” in the ’spy’ scandal – but following a six-hour extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, they avoided any punishment.

Although they were in possession of confidential information belonging to rivals Ferrari, it was decided by the 25 members of the WMSC that there was “insufficient evidence” for any sanction to be imposed.

Many will consider the verdict to be a whitewash – even if the door is open for Ferrari to find evidence that would implicate McLaren and potentially see them thrown out of the championship, this year and next.

As far as British fans are concerned, their new hero has not been docked points and can go into the final seven grands prix of the season with a clear shot at winning the title.

Hamilton, leading the drivers’ title race by two points from team-mate Fernando Alonso, said: “While it’s only my first season in Formula One with the team, I already know and appreciate the commitment and dedication of the people there.

“As a result, I am pleased with the decision and can’t wait for the rest of the season.”

Ferrari, though, were left seething with the WMSC decision and pulled no punches in their condemnation of the verdict.

It is one their lawyers claimed could cost them at least £3million in terms of lost revenue through sponsorship, marketing and prize money.

A strongly-worded statement read: “Ferrari...finds it incomprehensible that violating the fundamental principle of sporting honesty does not have, as a logical and inevitable consequence, the application of a sanction.

“Today’s decision legitimises dishonest behaviour in Formula One and sets a very serious precedent.

“The decision of the WMSC signifies that possession, knowledge at the very highest level and use of highly confidential information acquired in an illicit manner, and the acquiring of confidential information over the course of several months, represent violations that do not carry any punishment.

“The fact McLaren was in possession of such information was discovered totally by accident and, but for this, the team would continue to have it.

“This is all the more serious as it has occurred in a sport like Formula One in which small details make all the difference.

“Ferrari feels this is highly prejudicial to the credibility of the sport.

“It will continue with the legal action under way within the Italian criminal justice system, and in the civil court in England.”

The legal action is against Mike Coughlan and Nigel Stepney, the former suspended by McLaren from his role as chief designer and the latter fired by Ferrari from his post as head of performance development.

It is believed Stepney ’leaked’ 780 pages of technical Ferrari information to Coughlan, even though the accusation has been strongly denied.

Yet whatever injustice Ferrari are aggrieved at, unsurprisingly on the other side of the fence McLaren are relatively content with the outcome.

“Moving forward, McLaren want to re-affirm our long-standing commitment to honesty and integrity and re-state that we believe we have acted correctly throughout,” said team principal Dennis.

“Now, we have Formula One world championships to win. As a result we intend to move on, so as to maintain the focus and commitment required to do exactly that.”