With many F1 insiders believing that Renault will "get away with it" when the French team appears in front of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Monaco today, team boss Flavio Briatore has warned that he is considering suing McLaren.

As the Woking team was issuing a clarification relating to comments leaked to the British media, Briatore was telling the Daily Express: "A lot of very bad things have been said about us by McLaren in the last few weeks, very damaging.

"We will be cleared," he added, "and once the verdict is announced we will consider legal action. Our reputation has been defamed."

Having been fined $100m and excluded from the 2007 Constructors' Championship, McLaren, which claims 'spy saga 2' is every bit as relevant as 'spy saga 1' will be watching today's hearing with great interest. Indeed, should Renault appear to escape punishment, the Woking outfit may well consider its own legal action against the French team.