Hearing starts in Paris

Thirty minutes prior to the start of the extraordinary hearing, a sharp-suited Whitmarsh arrived at the FIA headquarters overlooking the Place de la Concorde in a silver Mercedes.

Sombre-looking, Whitmarsh was immediately surrounded by cameramen and photographers, but other than a "good morning," he offered no comment on the prospective day's events.

FIA president Max Mosley, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the 23 other members that comprise the World Council - only Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali was not present - all filed in.

Adopting a non-confrontational approach to the meeting, Whitmarsh is without legal representation, although McLaren company lawyer Tim Murnane is present, but only in an observational capacity.

It was expected Whitmarsh would read out a statement before taking questions on the events that unfolded towards the end of the season-opening grand prix in Australia and ahead of the subsequent race in Malaysia.

McLaren face five charges of bringing the sport into disrepute under article 151c of the International Sporting Code after Lewis Hamilton and Dave Ryan, since sacked as sporting director, were caught lying to the race stewards in Melbourne.

Hamilton was promoted from fourth to third after the stewards handed Jarno Trulli a 25-second penalty for passing the Briton behind the safety car.

Hamilton and Ryan insisted at the time no order was relayed from the team demanding he allow Trulli to pass.

However, evidence in the form of pit-to-car transmissions and an interview Hamilton gave immediately after the race contradicted their story, resulting in the case being re-opened.