Hamilton now leads by just one point
McLaren have lost their appeal against Lewis Hamilton's drive-through penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix, it has been reported. The British driver had been given a 25-second penalty for cutting a chicane at Spa but strongly fought the punishment at yesterday's FIA appeal in Paris.
Felipe Massa won the race after Hamilton was demoted to third. If the appeal had been successful Hamilton's lead in the championship would have increased from one point to seven. However the five judges upheld the penalty, leaving the championship wide open.
'Article 152 of the International Sporting Code states that drive-through penalties are "not susceptible to appeal",' the FIA said in a statement. 'Having heard the explanations of the parties, the court has concluded that the appeal is inadmissible.'
Following the decision Hamilton said: 'People will probably expect me to be depressed about today's result, but that isn't me,' said Hamilton. 'All I want to do now is put this matter behind me and get on with what we drivers do best: racing each other. We're racers, we're naturally competitive and we love to overtake. Overtaking is difficult, and it feels great when you manage to pull off a great passing manoeuvre. If it pleases the spectators and TV viewers, it's better still. So I'm disappointed, yes, but not depressed.'
Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren's chief operating officer, added: 'We are naturally disappointed with today's verdict, and to have received no ruling on the substance of our appeal. No-one wants to win Grands Prix in court; but we felt that Lewis had won the Belgian Grand Prix, on track, in an exciting and impressive manner.'
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