story from BBC Sport F1
McLaren have been given a suspended three-race ban for misleading stewards at the Australian Grand Prix by motor sport's governing body, the FIA.
The British team admitted five charges of breaching Formula One rules at a special inquiry on Wednesday in Paris.
The penalty will only be enforced upon Lewis Hamilton's team if "further facts emerge" about this incident or if there is a "further breach" of the rules.
The FIA said team boss Martin Whitmarsh had been "open and honest" with them.
A World Motor Sport Council statement read: "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.
"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 151 c of the International Sporting Code."
The incident towards the end of the season-opening race in Melbourne where world champion Hamilton finished fourth behind Jarno Trulli's Toyota.
Following the race, McLaren accused the Italian of breaking F1 rules by overtaking while the field was under the control of the safety car.
Officials initially handed Trulli a 25-second penalty, promoting Hamilton to third after he and McLaren's long-serving sporting director Dave Ryan gave evidence that the Englishman had not deliberately let the Toyota driver through, and had not been asked by the team to do so.
But McLaren's radio communication contradicted this and Hamilton was later disqualified with Trulli reinstated to third place.
Hamilton, who issued an emotional public apology after the incident, has escaped punishment from the FIA.
After full details were revealed, Ryan was sacked after 35 years with the team and former McLaren principal Ron Dennis moved away from his involvement with F1 - although he insisted it was not related to the incident.
EDIT:- Someones been messing with the title i'm pretty sure it read: McLieran given suspended 3 race ban.. i was making the emphasis on the whole Lying thing.
McLaren have been given a suspended three-race ban for misleading stewards at the Australian Grand Prix by motor sport's governing body, the FIA.
The British team admitted five charges of breaching Formula One rules at a special inquiry on Wednesday in Paris.
The penalty will only be enforced upon Lewis Hamilton's team if "further facts emerge" about this incident or if there is a "further breach" of the rules.
The FIA said team boss Martin Whitmarsh had been "open and honest" with them.
A World Motor Sport Council statement read: "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.
"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 151 c of the International Sporting Code."
The incident towards the end of the season-opening race in Melbourne where world champion Hamilton finished fourth behind Jarno Trulli's Toyota.
Following the race, McLaren accused the Italian of breaking F1 rules by overtaking while the field was under the control of the safety car.
Officials initially handed Trulli a 25-second penalty, promoting Hamilton to third after he and McLaren's long-serving sporting director Dave Ryan gave evidence that the Englishman had not deliberately let the Toyota driver through, and had not been asked by the team to do so.
But McLaren's radio communication contradicted this and Hamilton was later disqualified with Trulli reinstated to third place.
Hamilton, who issued an emotional public apology after the incident, has escaped punishment from the FIA.
After full details were revealed, Ryan was sacked after 35 years with the team and former McLaren principal Ron Dennis moved away from his involvement with F1 - although he insisted it was not related to the incident.
EDIT:- Someones been messing with the title i'm pretty sure it read: McLieran given suspended 3 race ban.. i was making the emphasis on the whole Lying thing.
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The fact that other teams do it is irrelevant.
They were found guilty and faced with irrefutable evidence put their hands up. Too many high paid sportsmen indulge in this form of behaviour nowadays whether its Rolando falling to the ground clutching an imaginary jury, Maradona's "Hand of God" or the histrionics at the centre court at Wimbledon "you can't be serious" I want the umpire ( =my mummy 
) You can dress it up with fancy words but followers of a particular sport can recognise 
Ultimately without "the rules" the activity becomes pointless and people will get so fed up they will stop watching it 
and nobody, particularly the highly paid sportsmen or sponsors, 
wants that.
