F1: McLaren lodges appeal with FIA

[Plex]

The appeal process has begun

A decision of the stewards following the Belgian Grand Prix saw 25 seconds added to Lewis Hamilton's overall race time, the result of which saw him drop down from victory to third place. The win therefore went to second-placed Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.

The stewards considered that Hamilton had not properly allowed Kimi Raikkonen to regain his position after the McLaren driver temporarily overtook Raikkonen's Ferrari while taking avoiding action at the Bus Stop chicane.

McLaren had soon informed the FIA that it would appeal the decision, and has now confirmed the procedure with the following statement:

Martin Whitmarsh said:
"Following our decision to register our intention to appeal the penalty handed out to Lewis Hamilton by the FIA Stewards at the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix, we hereby confirm that we have now lodged notice of appeal. Lewis describes the incident as follows."

Lewis Hamilton said:
"In the closing stages of the race I was catching Kimi consistently, lap by lap, and with three laps remaining I got close enough to attempt to overtake him on the entry to the last chicane. I managed to get slightly ahead of him in the braking area for the first apex of the chicane. He fought back approaching the second apex - but, in doing so, he left no room for me on the inside line. The only way for me to avoid a collision was therefore to cut inside the second apex.
"

"I came out of the second apex in front of Kimi and so I momentarily lifted-off on the straight, to ensure that Kimi got back in front. The team also came on the radio and instructed me to allow Kimi to repass, which I had already done. As a result, Kimi crossed the start/finish line ahead of me and 6.7km/h quicker than me."

"After allowing Kimi to completely repass, I crossed from the left side of the track to the right side of the track, passing behind Kimi in the process. I then attacked Kimi on the inside of the first corner, and successfully outbraked him."

Martin Whitmarsh added:
"From the pit wall, we then asked Race Control to confirm that they were comfortable that Lewis had allowed Kimi to repass, and they confirmed twice that they believed that the position had been given back in a manner that was 'okay'."

"If Race Control had instead expressed any concern regarding Lewis's actions at that time, we would have instructed Lewis to allow Kimi to repass for a second time."

F1

[Plex]

Hamilton appeal to be heard this month


A decision that pleased some and infuriated
others at the Belgian Grand Prix

The appeal against McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton's victory demotion at Spa Francorchamps is likely to be heard before the end of this month, an FIA spokeswoman confirmed on Wednesday.

She said the Paris based governing body is hopeful the International Court of Appeal can deal with the matter before the Singapore Grand Prix late in September, therefore ensuring that the outcome of the 2008 world championship does not hang on a procedural matter.

Also on Wednesday, the 23-year-old Briton Hamilton gave his first press interview since the Belgian Grand Prix.

He said he still feels he did nothing wrong during his wheel-to-wheel fight for the lead with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

"If I had done something wrong, I would be the first to admit it," Hamilton told the German newspaper Bild. "As a sportsman, this is something that is very important for me.

He said it did not take long to digest the information that the stewards had annulled his Belgian Grand Prix win.

"I do not feel guilty so there is nothing that I have to digest," Hamilton explained. "It would be another matter if I had let my team down, but I did not."

"I feel like I deserve ten points instead of six. On the other hand it could have been zero if I had damaged my car in the difficult conditions," he added.

F1

[MG Man]

Hamilton got what he deserved
_________________

I know it's so, for I told me so

[Plex]

Hamilton Appeal Verdict Due Tuesday

The International Court of Appeal will publish its decision about McLaren's Lewis Hamilton Spa-Francorchamps appeal on Tuesday.

The FIA court is set to hear the matter in Paris on Monday morning, after the Mercedes-powered team objected to race stewards' imposition of a 25-second penalty for illegal overtaking that retrospectively cost championship leader Hamilton his Belgian grand prix win.

Up for grabs are the six points the 23-year-old Briton lost as a result of his demotion from first to third place, and Massa's promotion, but the court's first task will be to rule on whether McLaren's appeal is even admissible.

Although just days before official action kicks off under lights in Singapore, Hamilton will personally attend the hearing, to take place at the FIA's Place de la Concorde headquarters.

"We have to have faith in the system, and in the fairness of the FIA International Court of Appeal," said McLaren boss Ron Dennis.

The team's lawyers are expected to argue two key points: that Hamilton had to cut the Bus Stop chicane to avoid colliding with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, and that he then voluntarily ceded the gained place back to the Finn before launching a new pass at La Source one corner later.

In addition to the real-time advice given by race director Charlie Whiting, McLaren might also be holding some undisclosed evidence close to its chest, according to the German press.

"We are not going to discuss the hearing with the media in advance, so we ask for your understanding," Mercedes' Norbert Haug told the news agency SID.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is also reluctant to comment.

"I just hope that the rules are upheld," the Italian said.

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[Plex]

F1: Hamilton �Not Depressed� After Verdict

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton on Tuesday said he was �disappointed but not depressed� with the FIA�s decision to reject the appeal against the penalty that stripped the 23-year-old Briton of his Belgian Grand Prix victory.

The International Court of Appeal on Tuesday announced that the appeal, lodged by Hamilton�s team McLaren, was not admissible because drive-through penalties � even when they take the form of a 25-second time penalty � are not subject to appeal (click herefor story).

�People will probably expect me to be depressed about today�s result, but that isn�t me,� said the British driver, whose one-point lead over Ferrari�s Felipe Massa would have been increased to seven had the appeal succeeded. �I�m disappointed, yes, but not depressed. All I want to do now is put this matter behind me and get on with what we drivers do best: racing each other.�

Team chief executive Martin Whitmarsh said he was disappointed that the Court of Appeal offered �no ruling on the substance of our appeal.�

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