McLaren shocked, newspaper calls it a farce

McLaren F1 team chief Ron Dennis

"The sentence is a farce", the Italian newspaper Tuttosport said, adding: "McLaren was only punished in the constructor's championship. With that FIA manages to better even our football scandal."

   McLaren was late Thursday fined 100 million dollars and docked all their points in the constructor's standing after the sport's governing body FIA ruled that McLaren had used documents they had illegally obtained to their advantage.

 FIA however ruled that championship leader Lewis Hamilton could keep the 92 points he has, as could second-placed Fernando Alonso, who has 89 points.

 Corriere della Sera was another of the newspaper that criticised the penalty. "McLaren punished, the drivers are saved. That is justice denied. A black day for the sport."

   FIA president Max Mosely explained that Hamilton and Alonso had co-operated and given them valuable information. "That is why they are allowed to keep their points."

   "This sentence is a shock for all of us in the team and, as reaction from some parts of the media and Formula One fans shows, for many people on the outside," Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug said.

 He added that the team might lodge an appeal. "We will now, more than ever, try our best to give the right answer on  the track, as we did in Monza. We will also try to get justice in court," Haug said. dpa