Renault escape penalty

Team boss Flavio Briatore, and others, appeared at an extraordinary general meeting of the FIA World Motorsport Council in Monaco.

Renault, the world champions in 2005 and 2006, were found in breach of article 151c of the FIA's international sporting code, namely of "being involved in any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally."

Former McLaren technician Phil Mackereth was accused of taking sensitive information about the dampers from the team's cars to Renault with him when he changed jobs.

The FIA said it will explain it's reasons for not punishing Renault by the end of the week.

The decision is a slap in the face for McLaren, who were found guilty of the same breach in September when they knowingly possessed Ferrari information leaked to the team's chief designer Mike Coughlan from Ferrari's Nigel Stepney.

McLaren were fined US $100 million [£50.2 million] for their offence and thrown out of this year's constructors' world championship.

"I would like to thank Renault, our title sponsor ING and all our partners for their wholehearted support during this sensitive period," said team chief Briatore.

"I also wish to pay tribute to the team, which has handled the matter with integrity and dignity. We are pleased that we can now focus fully on on our preparations for the 2008 world championship."

The decision will give Renault the green light to sign two-time world champion Fernando Alonso next week.

Chiefs of the French manufacturer were believed to be unwilling to sanction a big money move for the Spaniard unless he would be able to score points in the constructors' championship.