Motor Sport: McLaren have today been handed a suspended three-race ban as the lying controversy that has dogged the team in recent weeks reached its conclusion today.
The team’s pro-active approach in the run up to the extraordinary hearing of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris played its part in softening the blow as McLaren could have been more heavily penalised.
However, the WMSC appear to have taken into account a number of mitigating circumstances after McLaren pleaded guilty on all five counts of breaching the International Sporting Code.
Team principal Martin Whitmarsh attended the FIA hearing in Paris after McLaren were charged with five counts of bringing the sport into disrepute.
"Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh addressed the WMSC and the change in culture he made clear is taking place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deemed appropriate," the FIA said in a statement.
"That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races (in the world championship). This will only be applied if further facts emerge regarding the case or if in the next 12 months there is further breach by the team."
Whitmarsh, who apologised in person, said he hoped the team could now move on.
Arriving in a silver Mercedes, Whitmarsh delivered a statement of apology and left after less than an hour inside.
"We've made mistakes, we've apologised to the FIA and the public," he told reporters. "We await the decision."
Asked whether this was the end of the affair, he replied: "I very much hope so. I hope that this will draw a line and we can carry on racing."