McLaren handed suspended three-race ban

Lewis Hamilton's Formula One title defence remained alive yesterday after his McLaren team were handed a suspended three-race ban for lying to race stewards.

The FIA said after a hearing in Paris that the contrite way in which McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh had apologised for the team's behaviour was taken into account.

"Having regard to the open and honest way in which Whitmarsh addressed the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) and the change in culture he made clear has taken place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deemed appropriate," the FIA said.

A three-race suspension would have dealt a hammer blow to Hamilton's dwindling hopes of retaining the title, with the 24-year-old already 22 points behind compatriot Jenson Button after four of the 17 races.

It could also have had serious implications for the team's sponsors and 40 per cent shareholders Mercedes, already under pressure from union leaders to pull out of the sport.

McLaren faced five counts of bringing the sport into disrepute after Hamilton, who was not at the hearing, and now-dismissed sporting director Dave Ryan misled stewards at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and in Malaysia a week later.

Both denied Hamilton had been told to let Toyota's Jarno Trulli past while following the safety car, despite radio recordings revealing that to be untrue.