MOTOR SPORT:Formula One's governing body opened an investigation yesterday into McLaren's one-two win in the Monaco Grand Prix amid a controversy over so-called "team orders".

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said it was looking into incidents involving the Mercedes-powered team "in light of a possible breach of the international sporting code," it added.

Fernando Alonso won Sunday's race ahead of British rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton. They are level on 38 points but Alonso leads the championship on race wins.

Hamilton revealed afterwards that he had been told to ease off rather than jeopardise the one-two.

Team orders, effectively manipulating the outcome of a race, have been banned since the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix where Ferrari ordered Brazilian Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher win.

However, McLaren team boss Ron Dennis denied any manipulation. "We don't have team orders, we had a strategy to win this race," he said on Sunday.