McLaren Appeal Cites Fia Backing for Hamilton's Race Manoeuvre

McLaren have lodged a formal appeal against the penalty that dropped Lewis Hamilton from first place to third in last Sunday's Belgian grand prix. The decision to proceed with the appeal was backed by the fact that Charlie Whiting, the FIA's race director, apparently twice reassured McLaren that he was satisfied with the way in which Hamilton had allowed Kimi Raikkonen to overtake his McLaren after it had straight-lined the chicane immediately before the pits.

"From the pit wall, we then asked race control to confirm that they were comfortable that Lewis had allowed Kimi to repass," said Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren's chief operating officer, "and they confirmed twice that they believed that the position had been given back in a manner that was OK. 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."

There is not time for the FIA to convene its international court of appeal before Sunday's Italian grand prix at Monza. It is expected to adjudicate before the Singapore grand prix on September 28. The court has the power to restore the ninth grand prix win of Hamilton's career.

Hamilton said yesterday: "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."

Hamilton goes to Italy leading his main championship rival, Ferrari's Felipe Massa, by two points rather than the eight he believed he had after Belgium.

Surinder Thathi, one of the three stewards at the Belgian grand prix, said: "There was no conspiracy against anybody, McLaren included. We acted professionally and within the FIA rules. Hamilton took a shortcut inside of the corner while off the track. We had a choice to mete out a time penalty or 10 grid places in the next race. We opted for the former and handed a time penalty of 25 seconds."