McLaren loses its standoff with the FIA…

The FIA has rejected the appeal lodged by McLaren against the penalty imposed on Lewis Hamilton following the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

This decision means that Hamilton retains only a one-point lead over Felipe Massa in the drivers’ championship with only four races remaining before the end of the season.

The Briton had been penalized after cutting a chicane during an epic showdown with Kimi Räikkönen. According to the race stewards, Hamilton gained an advantage. He was demoted from first to third place after a 25-second penalty.

According to his team, McLaren-Mercedes, Hamilton did not gain any advantage in this chicane and has therefore decided to appeal the penalty.

The FIA has decided that this penalty, equivalent to a drive-through, cannot be contested: « Article 152 of the international sporting code states that drive-throughs cannot be subject to an appeal. »

« This decision was made in the presence of both parties, namely Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and the track marshals of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, by the FIA International Court of Appeal during a hearing in Paris on September 22. »

« Having heard the parties’ explanations, the Court ruled that the appeal is inadmissible. »