Formula One: McLaren has been stripped of it's constructor points and fined €72 million by the World Motor Sport Council after fresh evidence emerged in the spy scandal that shook Formula One earlier this year.
Mercifully for drivers Lewis Hamilton and defending champion Fernando Alonso no sanction was imposed on either car. The pair are just three points apart in the championship race with four grands prix remaining.
Following a 10-hour meeting at the FIA headquarters in Paris a statement read: "The WMSC have stripped Vodafone McLaren Mercedes of all constructor points in the 2007 FIA Formula One world championship and the team can score no points for the remainder of the season.
"Furthermore, the team will pay a fine equal to US$100million, less the FOM (Formula One Management) income lost as a result of the points deduction.
"However, due to the exceptional circumstances in which the FIA gave the team's drivers an immunity in return for providing evidence, there is no penalty in regard to drivers' points.
"The WMSC will receive a full technical report on the 2008 McLaren car and will take a decision at the December 2007 meeting after what sanction, if any, will be imposed on the team for the 2008 season."
Team boss Ron Dennis left the marathon hearing in sombre mood following the remarkable sanctions meted out to his team. McLaren were found guilty at an initial hearing on July 26th, although no penalty was imposed due to what the council described as "insufficient evidence".
Suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan was found to be in possession of 780 pages of Ferrari technical information, stored on computer disks at his home. However, at that stage there was no evidence to suggest the dossier had been used with regard to this year's McLaren car.
McLaren also pointed out Coughlan was a rogue employee working to further his career ambitions in conjunction with Nigel Stepney, sacked as Ferrari's head of performance development. But since the July hearing other evidence materialised resulting in today's meeting, at the end of which the council severely penalised McLaren.
It remains to be seen whether the team will appeal given this case has already dragged on for three months.
Dennis was supported at the hearing by Hamilton, the 22-year-old Briton who has taken this year's championship by storm in his debut year. Now, though, a cloud will hang over any possible success should he go on to become the first driver to win the title in his rookie year.
Dennis later said: "Normally I like to shoot a little bit from the hip, but I want to put a bit more discipline into what I say.
"So I've taken a little bit of time to collect my thoughts.
"The most important thing is we go motor racing this weekend, the rest of the season and every season," he said. "This means our drivers can continue to compete for the world championship.
"However, having been at the hearing I do not accept that we deserve to be penalised or our reputation damaged in this way.
"The evidence given to the FIA by our drivers, engineers and staff clearly demonstrated we did not use any leaked information to gain a competitive advantage.
"Much has been made in the press and at the hearing of emails and text messages to and from our drivers.
Ferrari, meanwhile, declared themselves satisfied with the outcome. A statement read: "Ferrari acknowledges the decision of the FIA to sanction Vodafone McLaren Mercedes for its breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code.
"In light of new evidence, facts and behaviour of an extremely serious nature and grossly prejudicial to the interest of the sport have been further demonstrated.
"Ferrari is satisfied that the truth has now emerged."