McLaren fine may not reach 50 mln pounds

By Alan Baldwin

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) - McLaren may ultimately have to pay substantially less than the record $100 million (50 million pound) fine imposed on the team in a Formula One spying controversy, according to analysts.

A report by Formula Money, which monitors the sport's financial health, said on Friday a sum of $31 million could be closer to the mark.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced after a hearing in Paris on Thursday that McLaren would lose all their constructors' points for the 2007 season and also incur a $100 million fine for having Ferrari data in their possession.

However, it said in a statement that the sum would be "less the FOM (Formula One Management) income lost as a result of the points deduction".

The team, 23 points clear of Ferrari after last weekend's Italian Grand Prix with four races remaining, could have expected $68.9 million in prize money for winning the championship, according to Formula Money.

That lost revenue would still be a considerable blow to McLaren, one of the most successful and well-funded teams, but one they could absorb better than most.

"Effectively, we will still have as an offset the revenue from the points earned to date. That will effectively halve the size of the cheque we have to sign, if we ultimately accept this fine," team boss Ron Dennis said on Thursday.

"But as you can see if you read our accounts, we turn over roughly $450-500 million a year, and we are debt-free, so obviously we are a very strong company with phenomenal growth," he added.