Reuters

Paris, Apr 29: McLaren have been given a suspended three-race ban for deliberately misleading stewards at the Australian Grand Prix in March, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Wednesday.

The FIA said the contrite way in which team principal Martin Whitmarsh had apologised for the incident was taken into account after McLaren, the team of world champion Lewis Hamilton, 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 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 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."

The controversy started when Hamilton, who did not attend the hearing, and the team denied the driver had been instructed to let Toyota's Jarno Trulli past while following the safety car, despite an order being captured on radio recordings.

Hamilton apologised at a news conference at the following race in Malaysia, saying he had been misled by the team who suspended and then dismissed sporting director Dave Ryan.

Hamilton later issued a public apology for creating a situation he said was the worst he had ever experienced.

Whitmarsh, aware another hefty fine would be hard for 40 percent owners Mercedes to swallow in the current financial crisis, also wrote this month to FIA president Max Mosley to offer an "unreserved apology" and accept the team was in breach of the regulations.