Formula One legends Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart have railed against the decision of the World Motor Sport Council to fine McLaren nearly £50 million and strip the team of their points in the constructors’ championship.

However, Hamilton and reigning world champion team-mate Fernando Alonso - who are just three points apart in this season’s championship race with four grands prix remaining - are clear to continue the race for the crown.

Moss, 77, said: “I’m absolutely staggered - this is terrible.

“The whole of motor racing has been shaken and the only thing they [the WMSC] have done right is to allow the drivers to keep points.

“Taking the points off the drivers would ruin the whole deal. McLaren are banned, fair enough - but I can’t believe a fine like that.

“Ron Dennis [the McLaren team principal] is not an easy man but I feel he’s been done down I do really - I really do not believe he would know about it.

“OK, he’s the captain of the ship but I would put a lot of my money on his integrity.”

Moss was critical of suspended McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan, understood to have received 780 pages of Ferrari technical information passed on to him by Nigel Stepney, sacked earlier this year as Ferrari’s head of performance development.

And Moss, who won 16 grands prix between 1955 and 1961, said: “Obviously something should be done to the two guys in particular [Coughlan and Stepney].

“The damage they have done to the whole thing is unbelievable - but I’m not convinced McLaren were much enhanced by what they got.

“It’s awful for the public, we are seeing the best racing we’ve seen for years.”

Former world champion Stewart was also critical of the punishment. The Scot, world champion in 1969, 1971 and 1973, said: “Even if they were found guilty of the crime it does not justify this type of penalty.”

The £49.2 million will go to the World Motor Sport Council. And Stewart, 68, added: “McLaren are not a poor company - but you have to ask where the money goes.”

“Does it go to the governing body? Have they just gained by a 100 million dollars - or does it go to charity?”