McLaren disciplined by F1 officials

PARIS, April 29 (UPI) -- McLaren's Formula One race team was given a suspended three-race ban Wednesday during a World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris.

The McLaren organization admitted to five breaches of the International Sporting Code. The race suspension will go in effect "if further facts emerge regarding the case or if, in the next 12 months, there is a further breach by the team" of the code, the WMSC said in a release.

The disciplinary action is in response to a March 29 incident at the Australian Grand Prix in which the McLaren team alleged Toyota's Jarno Trulli overtook the field while a safety car was on the track, the BBC said.

Trulli was given a 25-second penalty after McLaren team members said they hadn't deliberately let Trulli pass. However, the BBC reported that McLaren radio communications disputed that version. Race officials subsequently reinstated Trulli's third-place finish and disqualified McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, last year's driving champion.

Hamilton has issued a public apology for the incident.

The WMSC release said the decision to suspend the punishment was a result of "the open and honest way" McLaren Racing Chief Executive Officer Martin Whitmarsh addressed the council and promised organizational changes.