Todt says spy row damaging F1

With just four days to go before McLaren face a hearing of the FIA Motor Sport World Council to discuss new evidence in the spy case, Todt said his team were 'sorry' that the matter had erupted in F1.

"I mean, it's a taint on the sport every time that there is a bad controversy," he told reporters at the Monza circuit on Sunday night.

"It can happen in athletics, it can happen with gold medal winners, it can happen with cycling, it can happen with football, and now it is something that is happening in Formula One.

"I think that we are sorry that it is happening in Formula One, but we are in the position where we want the truth to appear. And that's all that we want, and all that we have been working on and doing. And we are confident that the truth will come through."

Ferrari are set to present fresh evidence at the hearing on Thursday, and Todt has made it clear that the matter is likely to carry on whatever the outcome for McLaren.

"For us it is something which is too important and we will move forward in Italy," he said.

"With the FIA, I'm not going to comment on what the decisions will be because I don't know what the decisions will be, and [will] outline what can happen once the decision has been taken. And we will move on with the civil case in the UK as well."