McLaren expected to not appeal verdict

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today because McLaren chose not to appeal before yesterday's 4 PM deadline.

09/20/07 Lewis Hamilton's McLaren team are expected to let Friday's 4pm deadline pass without appealing against their punishment in the Formula One spying scandal.

The Woking-based team were last week fined a record $100million (£50m) and disqualified from the constructors' championship for using technical secrets from rivals Ferrari.

But McLaren boss Ron Dennis will almost certainly opt for "closure", claiming that accepting the World Motor Sport Council's decision best serves the interests of the sport.

In truth, he knows that an appeal would also expose McLaren to the possibility of further penalties — including the expulsion of leader Hamilton and his disgruntled team-mate Fernando Alonso. DailyMail.com