Lewis Hamilton's Formula One world title hopes for 2008 are on hold for another two months at least after the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) met in Monaco today to discuss the FIA technical department's report on the validity of McLaren's 2008 car.

The WMSC has subsequently decided to call an EGM in Paris on February 14, 2008, at which McLaren, Ferrari and the other F1 teams will be afforded the chance to present their views on the report.

An FIA statement read: "In its decision of 13 September 2007, the WMSC instructed the FIA technical department to conduct an investigation of the preparatory work by McLaren on its 2008 car to determine whether that car incorporates any confidential Ferrari information.

"This investigation has been concluded and a detailed report submitted to the WMSC.

"The WMSC considers that McLaren, Ferrari and the other competitors in the FIA Formula One World Championship should be afforded the opportunity to make considered representations on the report at an extraordinary general meeting of the WMSC to be held on Thursday, 14 February, 2008 in Paris."

On September 13, McLaren were found guilty of fraudulent conduct, namely being in unauthorised possession of technical information belonging to Ferrari. That resulted in the WMSC fining McLaren £50 million and stripping the team of all their constructors' points for the 2007 season.

The WMSC confirmed at the time that a full technical report on the 2008 McLaren car would also be undertaken to ensure no Ferrari data would be making its way on to next year's model. That resulted in a group of inspectors from the FIA technical department carrying out a thorough search of McLaren's Woking-based headquarters. The team's computers were looked at, while personnel were interviewed at length.

It is apparent the FIA's technical department have discovered something untoward, otherwise McLaren would have been cleared. The fact the FIA are calling on the other F1 teams to offer their input into the report further suggests the matter is severe.

If it has been discovered McLaren have not just copied components, but have incorporated design ideas that can be traced to Ferrari, further sanctions will be imposed. At worst, the team could be thrown out of the 2008 championship, or they could start next season on minus points.

The situation clearly does not appear to bode well for McLaren or Hamilton, who only this week expressed his enthusiasm for next season. It is also likely to anger Ron Dennis, the McLaren team principal, who at the time of the Paris hearing in September was adamant the matter would not spill over into next year.

"There will be no issue for the 2008 season as we have not at any stage used any intellectual property of any other team," Dennis said.

Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren chief executive, further corroborated Dennis' remarks when he said this week: "I know the 2008 car doesn't have any foreign intellectual property in it.

"I think we'll come out of this very shortly and will be able to put all of this behind us. And that's good for the sport. It's the right and appropriate outcome and we'll move on."