The FIA World Motor Sport Council on Thursday found Renault guilty, but imposed no penalty for the French team’s breach of the International Sporting Code. The body had met in Monaco to consider allegations that Renault, led by Flavio Briatore, possessed confidential information belonging to McLaren.

“Detailed reasons for this decision will be issued on December 7, 2007, and a transcript of the proceedings will be published as soon as possible thereafter,” a statement read. In a separate statement, Renault welcomed the decision “following (the team’s) acknowledged breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting

Code”.

The FIA’s decision is similar to the initial finding in the famous ‘Stepneygate’ case, when McLaren was also not penalised. “There is insufficient evidence that this information was used in such a way as to interfere improperly with the FIA formula one world championship,” the FIA’s statement said then.

McLaren was later excluded from the constructors’ championship and fined $100m when new evidence, including email exchanges between the drivers, came to light.