Hamilton faces expulsion

The sport's rookie sensation faces a points deduction or even expulsion from this year's championship if motor sport's governing body, the FIA, make full use of their disciplinary powers.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone last week assured Hamilton he would not be affected by any punishment McLaren might receive, but that may not be the case.

At present, the 22-year-old has a 12-point lead in the title race over team-mate Fernando Alonso, while their team are 25 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors' championship.

The Woking-based outfit are preparing to vigorously defend themselves after team chiefs were summoned to an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on July 26 to account for their actions in the scandal that has rocked the sport.

They will be asked to explain how they had possession of documents from rivals Ferrari which can be used to design, engineer, build, check, test, develop and run a 2007 Ferrari F1 car.

A team statement read: "McLaren are extremely disappointed to note that they have been asked by the FIA to answer a charge of being in possession of certain documents and confidential information belonging to Ferrari.

"Whilst McLaren wish to continue their full co-operation with any investigation into this matter, they do wish to make it very clear that the documents and confidential information were only in the possession of one currently suspended employee on an unauthorised basis and no element of it has been used in relation to McLaren's Formula 1 cars."

Following an ongoing investigation by the FIA, McLaren "have been called to answer a charge...in breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code".

The relevant rule relates to "any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition, or to the interests of motor sport generally".