McLaren drop Hungary points appeal

LONDON, Sep 18 (Reuters) McLaren, stripped of all their Formula One constructors' points due to a spying controversy, have dropped an appeal against a penalty imposed at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said the Mercedes-powered team had notified them today that they wished to withdraw the appeal which would have been heard in Paris tomorrow.

McLaren lost 15 constructors' points from that race after Spaniard Fernando Alonso impeded team mate Lewis Hamilton in qualifying.

They had been expected to drop the appeal after being stripped of all their constructors' points for 2007 and fined 100 million dollars, minus prize money and revenues due to them, for their role in a spying controversy with Ferrari.

However they had hesitated to do so because of the possibility that the extra points could make a difference in the notional standings and be worth several million dollars off the fine.

Team boss Ron Dennis said at last weekend's Belgian Grand Prix that the team might 'swallow' the fine and points penalty in order to end a controversy that has hung over the sport for months but McLaren said no decision had been taken on that yet.

REUTERS BJR As1915