Bernie Ecclestone has revealed Mercedes McLaren could be banned when it appears before the World Motor Sport Council.

The team was summoned to appear before the WMSC by the FIA on a charge of undermining the integrity of the sport, after it was revealed that the Woking-based team had deliberately lied to stewards about the the circumstances regarding the late Safety Car period in Melbourne - when Jarno Trulli overtook Lewis Hamilton while the race was running under caution.

The saga has led Lewis Hamilton to issue a public apology for the incident after he sided with the team's claim that he hadn't been ordered to allow Trulli through, but radio evidence proved otherwise.

Hamilton was banned from the race with immediate effect and long-serving employee Dave Ryan was fired from his job for conspiring to mislead the officials.

While the WMSC could now take a range of punishments into consideration when it meets to discuss what occurred in Melbourne, Ecclestone admitted that a ban from competition could be a real possibility for the team, especially given that it is only a matter of years after McLaren was involved in the Formula One spying saga and thrown out of the constructors' championship.

"We need to investigate closer what went on," Bernie said in an interview. "It is about stealing a point and a place but those are worth money so basically it is fraud, although I am sure it started off more innocently without thought of the consequences."

"There are many options open if the charge sticks and it would be a terrible thing if any team were banned from races. But it could happen."

"It is not so long ago that McLaren were in front of the Council and it is never good for anyone if you are back in court quickly for something similar."