McLaren 'may face ban'

The team will appear before the World Motor Sport Council later this month to answer charges of lying to race stewards at the season-opening race.

The Mercedes-powered outfit have been found to have deliberately misled stewards about the circumstances regarding the late safety car period in Melbourne when Jarno Trulli overtook Lewis Hamilton.

The issue has already led to Hamilton issuing a public apology after he supported the team's claim that he had not been ordered to allow Trulli through – with radio evidence then proving the claim to be incorrect.

As well as Hamilton being excluded from the race, long-standing McLaren employee Dave Ryan has been dismissed from his job for his part in the incident.

"We need to investigate closer what went on," Bernie told the Daily Express. "It is about stealing a point and a place but those are worth money so basically it is fraud, although I am sure it started off more innocently without thought of the consequences.

"There are many options open if the charge sticks and it would be a terrible thing if any team were banned from races. But it could happen.

"It is not so long ago that McLaren were in front of the Council and it is never good for anyone if you are back in court quickly for something similar."

McLaren were thrown out of the constructors' championship in 2007 as a result of the spying saga involving rivals Ferrari.