Formula One's governing body cleared McLaren yesterday of using illegal 'team orders' in their one-two victory in Monaco last weekend.

"It is clear McLaren's actions during the 2007 Monaco GP were entirely legitimate and no further action is necessary," the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement.

The governing body said it had studied radio traffic between Mercedes-powered McLaren and their drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton as well as an FIA observer's report and data supplied by the team.

"It is standard procedure for a team to tell its drivers to slow down when they have a substantial lead," the FIA said.

"This is in order to minimise the risk of technical or other problems. It is also standard practice and entirely reasonable to ask the drivers not to put each other at risk.

"McLaren were able to pursue an optimum team strategy because they had a substantial advantage. They did nothing which could be described as interfering with the race result."

Alonso won Sunday's race after McLaren told British rookie Hamilton to ease off after the first pitstop to ensure they finished one-two. The decision triggered a controversy over the use of team orders, with British media in particular complaining Hamilton had been robbed of a chance to win the race.