Embattled McLaren boss Ron Dennis has confirmed it was his tip-off that resulted in the team being stripped of all constructors' points and fined £50m.

It is the latest twist in the spy scandal, which by the end of the season is almost certain to result in Fernando Alonso's departure from the team.

The FIA yesterday published the World Motor Sport Council's reasons behind the strict sanctions, and reigning world champion Alonso was fully implicated because of an email exchange with test driver Pedro de la Rosa.

The damning 15-page report proves Alonso and De la Rosa were in unauthorised possession of highly confidential Ferrari technical information.

Dennis became aware Alonso was armed with such knowledge after the controversial qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix where the Spaniard had become involved in a spat with team-mate Lewis Hamilton, which resulted in the Spaniard being dumped from pole to sixth on the grid.

The McLaren boss informed FIA president Max Mosley just hours ahead of the race in Budapest.

Confirming his actions, Dennis said: ''I want to stress that once I became aware new evidence might exist, which I did on the morning of the Hungarian Grand Prix, I immediately phoned the FIA to keep them informed.''

Dennis, though, is as yet undecided as to whether to launch an appeal, which would appear to be extremely difficult to win given the evidence against his team.

But Dennis added: ''I note the findings of the council show we have not used Ferrari intellectual property to achieve any competitive advantage for our cars.

''In addition, it's been recognised that McLaren has been open, co-operative and transparent throughout the entire process.

''We now have seven days to appeal and are carefully considering the company's position once we have a full understanding of the FIA's findings.

''Our focus is on winning the remaining four races and the drivers' world championship.''

An immunity offered by Mosley towards the McLaren drivers ensures Hamilton and Alonso remain in the hunt for the world title.

But Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who was part of the 25-man panel that sat in judgment on McLaren, revealed: ''It came very close to McLaren being thrown out.

''It really was a genuine possibility. A few of us sort of battled on and campaigned for the fine instead.

''The alternative was worse, being excluded from the championship for two years. It was much closer than everybody says it was.

''It really would have been bad news. McLaren would have lost more than they have been fined - if they'd have been able to keep going.''

One particular email exchange between De la Rosa and Alonso dated March 25, 2007, is especially damning.

It initially relates to the weight distribution of Ferrari's cars as set up for the Australian Grand Prix (on March 18).

De la Rosa then pertinently concludes: ''All the information from Ferrari is very reliable.

''It comes from Nigel Stepney, their former chief mechanic - I don't know what post he holds now. He's the same person who told us in Australia Kimi (Raikkonen) was stopping on lap 18.

''He's very friendly with Mike Coughlan, our chief designer, and he told him that.''

Stepney is the man accused of forwarding the 780-page technical dossier to Coughlan, an accusation the former continues to deny.

Further email exchanges between the two Spaniards have been revealed by the FIA, while the volume of phone calls, texts and emails between Coughlan and Stepney - investigated and confirmed by the Italian Police - is also highlighted.