McLaren's fate to be decided

The 24-year-old world champion will not be at the meeting of the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA)'s world motor sports council in Paris, with team principal Martin Whitmarsh appearing alone.

McLaren is charged with five counts of bringing the sport into disrepute by deliberately misleading stewards at the season-opening race in Melbourne and at the subsequent Malaysian Grand Prix.

Possible sanctions range from a reprimand to suspension from the championship for a team who were fined a record $100 million and stripped of all their constructors' points for a controversy in 2007.

The Mercedes-powered team, which has already been excluded from the Australian Grand Prix classification, has dismissed sporting director Dave Ryan while former boss Ron Dennis has distanced himself from the Formula One side of McLaren's business to concentrate on the company's sports cars.

A contrite Hamilton has also issued a public apology for creating a situation that he said was the worst he had ever experienced.

"McLaren was caught lying and have since offered a full apology to the FIA," said their former driver David Coulthard in a column for Britain's Daily Telegraph. "They have sacked one employee, seen another resign and had their name dragged through the mud. Their card has been marked, their reputation tainted. Do we really need to see more?"