McLaren could get points penalty

McLaren may have been given a huge title boost after a top official predicted the Woking-based squad will be cleared in the Formula One spy scandal.

McLaren chiefs go before the sport’s governing body (FIA) next week after their chief designer Mike Coughlan allegedly received stolen Ferrari documents.

Boss Ron Dennis insists the information was not used to help Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso.

If found guilty both drivers could be docked points or even thrown out of the championship.

But Joaquin Verdegay, one of 24 stewards who will decide their fate, said: “The normal situation would be that there’s not even a reprimand for Ron Dennis’ team because it’s almost impossible to prove anything."

However there appears to be a lack of consensus amongst the Italian media with many quoting sacked Ferrari chief engineer Nigel Stepney’s lawyer Sonia Bartolini, as saying McLaren do look likely to receive a points penalty.

"I think at this point McLaren do risk something – a few points docked in the championship," she said on Thursday evening. ESPN Star