Reigning world champion Fernando Alonso led home team-mate Lewis Hamilton, with the manufactured result ensuring the duo now share equal billing at the top of the drivers’ standings.

Alonso has the edge courtesy of his two race wins, with his 17th overall in his career now the object of scrutiny by the FIA.

After coming within 0.8 seconds of Alonso in the final third of the 78-lap race, Hamilton claims he was told “to ease off” by the team in order they score maximum points.

Team principal Ron Dennis also stated that, given the nature of the race, “you virtually have to decide in advance which of the team’s drivers will claim the victory”.

Dennis maintains that is in the event of a potential safety-car incident, as had occurred in four of the previous five grands prix at the Principality.

As there were no accidents, Alonso was the main beneficiary of the team’s strategy, whereas Hamilton would have emerged the victor if the safety car had been deployed.

Dennis further insisted: “We are scrupulously fair at all times in how we run this grand prix team.”

Yet, there are those who feel team strategy gave way to team orders which are banned under FIA regulations.

They came into force after Rubens Barrichello was told by his then Ferrari bosses to let Michael Schumacher pass him and win the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix.

With regard to this latest matter, a statement read: “The FIA has launched an investigation into incidents involving the McLaren Mercedes team at the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix in light of a possible breach of the International Sporting Code.

“The relevant evidence is under review and a further announcement will be made in due course.”

McLaren have potentially contravened Article 151c of the International Sporting Code by way of "any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition, or to the interests of motorsport generally".

The FIA’s investigation should take a matter of days to conclude and, if McLaren are found guilty, there are a range of punishments available.

The most likely is a reprimand or fine, while in extreme cases the FIA could opt to deduct points, although in this instance that is highly unlikely.

There is certainly a thin dividing line between team strategy and team orders, and Dennis knows on which side he stood on Sunday.

“Team strategy is what you bring to bear to win a grand prix; team orders are what you bring to bear to manipulate a grand prix,” explained Dennis.

“We do not, and have not, manipulated grands prix unless there are some exceptional circumstances. For example, in Australia [1998], someone tapped into our radio and instructed Mika Hakkinen to enter the pits.

“He entered the pits, but I reversed that because that was unfair. That was an outside influence influencing the outcome of the race.

“That is one of the very rare occasions there’s been a team order. I don’t feel uncomfortable with them, but I sleep easy. I have a clear conscience, both with regard to that particular race and this race here [Monaco].”