"This decision legitimises dishonest behaviour in F1 and sets a very serious precedent," they said in a statement. "We feel this is highly prejudicial to the credibility of the sport."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo warned he would not take the FIA’s decision lightly saying: “I want to tell all the fans who have been contacting Ferrari from around the world, offended by the FIA’s decision in Paris, that they should remain at ease because this story does not end here.”

Ferrari reacted with fury last night after an emergency hearing into the Formula One spy row resulted in McLaren Mercedes escaping without punishment. The FIA, the governing body of motor sport, gave Lewis Hamilton’s team a “let-off” over the possession of a huge dossier of secret technical information, a decision the Italian team were quick to condemn.

After hearing the announcement by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris, Ferrari said that it “legitimises dishonest behaviour in Formula One and sets a very serious precedent”.

The angry reaction in Maranello came as Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, his team-mate, were breathing a sigh of relief. The affair could have resulted in both drivers losing points or even being thrown out of the World Championship.

Michael Rasmussen's team Rabobank have confirmed they have withdrawn the Tour de France leader from this year's race and sacked him "on the spot" for apparently "lying about his whereabouts".

 A Rabobank spokesman confirmed that Dane Rasmussen had "broken team rules" - amid reports the team captain was to be removed from the tour.

Subsequently, the team have posted a statement on their own website explaining the circumstances which led to Rasmussen's sacking.

 "On Wednesday night, Michael Rasmussen - the wearer of the yellow jersey - has been withdrawn from the Tour team by the management of the Rabo Cycling teams, and has been dismissed on the spot.

 "Rasmussen appeared to have lied about his true whereabouts in the training period before the Tour de France," said the statement.

Australia's Cadel Evans fought hard but felt the full force of "two of the Tour de France's best climbers" during his damage limitation excercise on the 14th stage.

 A day after he moved up to second overall behind Rabobank climber Michael Rasmussen of Denmark, the 30-year-old Evans from Northern Territory was pushed into third place as Alberto Contador finally took flight.

 The 24-year-old Spaniard, who made his return to racing at the 2005 Tour Down Under following an operation on a brain haemorrhage a year earlier, claimed his first stage win on the race after a thrilling race of attrition on the 15.9 climb to the second summit finish here.

After leaving a battling Evans in their wake barely six kilometres from the summit, Rasmussen and Contador reeled in the last remaining member of an earlier five-man attack.