Ferrari let off

Ferrari have escaped further punishment at a hearing called to investigate their team-orders scandal during the German Grand Prix in July.

Team bosses were accused of ordering Felipe Massa to allow team-mate Fernando Alonso to pass him and take the lead in the latter stages of the race in order to bolster the latter's standing in the drivers' championship.

Race stewards handed the team a US$100,000 fine following the incident, which the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile's World Motor Sport Council has upheld.

However, the governing body unanimously decided to impose no further punishment at a hearing in Paris on Thursday.

Ferrari were embroiled in controversy after Massa appeared to be instructed to make way for Alonso 17 laps from the finish at Hockenheim.

The Italian team are believed to have presented a defence arguing that Massa was not explicitly instructed to slow down, but acted on his own accord after being told his team-mate was 'faster' than him.