Lewis Hamilton's relief as McLaren escape with suspended ban

Lewis Hamilton and his McLaren team escaped an immediate ban over the Liargate scandal today as Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone admitted they got away with "a slap".

The FIA's World Motor Sport Council met in Paris to rule on charges relating to the world champion and the team's former sporting director, Dave Ryan, lying to officials in a bid to deprive Jarno Trulli of third place at the Australian Grand Prix.

McLaren had braced themselves for suspension from at least one race and possibly exclusion from the rest of the season. However, in what will be regarded as an extremely lenient punishment
considering the gravity of the offence, the British team only received a three-race ban suspended for 12 months.

The FIA said in a statement: "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.

"The penalty 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 151c of the International Sporting Code."

McLaren had faced five charges of bringing the sport into disrepute. And considering they were still effectively under probation following the Spygate scandal of 2007, when the team were fined a record £50million and thrown out of the constructors' championship after being found in possession of technical secrets belonging to Ferrari, many observers felt the FIA would this time throw the book at them.