In a brief statement issued by the FIA this afternoon, Formula One's governing body has admitted to receiving new evidence relating to the ongoing spy saga.

The statement reads as follows:

"Following the receipt of new evidence the World Motor Sport Council has been reconvened for a hearing in Paris on September 13th.

In accordance with its decision of July 26th representatives of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes have been invited to attend the hearing.

The FIA President's referral of the matter to the International Court of Appeal has been withdrawn."

At the original hearing in July, the World Motor Sport Council chose not to impose any penalty on McLaren-Mercedes because there was insufficient evidence that the British team had benefited from documentation passed by Ferrari employed Nigel Stepney to its chief designer Mike Coughlan.

Subsequently, following pressure from the head of the Italian Motorsport Authority, FIA President Max Mosley referred the case to the International Court of Appeal.

The FIA is refusing to give any further details, which is sure to lead to intense speculation over the course of the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza.