by Keith Collantine / PA

Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 team has avoided any punishment in Formula 1’s spying scandal.

The World Motor Sports Council found there was insufficient evidence to prove that McLaren had used confidential information from Ferrari to its advantage.

But the FIA announced if the information stolen from Ferrari is found to be used in the future, McLaren could face the ultimate exclusion from this year's championship, and also in 2008.

This means that, for now, the British driver and team mate Fernando Alonso will not lose any points in the championship.

A WMSC statement read: "The WMSC is satisfied that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was in possession of confidential Ferrari information and is therefore in breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code.

"However, there is insufficient evidence that this information was used in such a way as to interfere improperly with the FIA Formula One World Championship. We therefore impose no penalty.

"But if it is found in the future that the Ferrari information has been used to the detriment of the championship, we reserve the right to invite Vodafone McLaren Mercedes back in front of the WMSC where it will face the possibility of exclusion from not only the 2007 championship, but also the 2008 championship."

Nigel Stepney, who Ferrari dismissed as their head of performance development, and McLaren's suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan, are the men accused of leaking and receiving the confidential information respectively and their futures will now be decided by the FIA.

The WMSC statement continued: "The WMSC will also invite Mr Stepney and Mr Coughlan to show reason why they should not be banned from international motor sport for a lengthy period, and the WMSC has delegated authority to deal with this matter to the legal department of the FIA."

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