Lewis Hamilton left facing ban threat

Lewis Hamilton and the McLaren team have been warned they face Grand Prix bans after being called before the FIA World Council to answer changes of bringing Formula One into disrepute.

Hamilton is expected to make a personal appearance at the FIA's Paris headquarters on 29 April, when McLaren will be asked to explain why the world champion and sporting director Dave Ryan provided "deliberately misleading" testimonies to stewards investigating an overtaking manoeuvre made by Toyota driver Jarno Trulli.

Ryan yesterday lost his job after a 34-year career at McLaren but that course of action alone is unlikely to appease the World Council who, just two years ago, hit the British team with a £50million fine for possessing technical secrets belonging to rivals Ferrari.

F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone said: "There are many options open if the charge sticks. It would be terrible if any team were banned from races but it could happen."