FORMULA ONE NEWSLEWIS HAMILTON heads into the final four grands prix of the Formula One season in possession of a narrow one-point lead after McLaren's appeal against his drive-through penalty at the recent Belgian Grand Prix was ruled inadmissible.
Hamilton yesterday spent five-and-a-half hours at an FIA International Court of Appeal hearing in Paris hoping the decision of the stewards to demote him from race winner to third on the back of the 25-second penalty would be overturned.
If successful Hamilton would have seen his lead increase to seven points over Ferrari's Felipe Massa, but the five judges have upheld the stewards' ruling.
The incident in question occurred at the end of lap 42 of the 44-lap race at Spa when Hamilton cut a chicane, gaining an advantage on reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen.
Although the 23-year-old immediately allowed Raikkonen by to regain his lead, Hamilton surged past the Finn at the subsequent La Source hairpin before going on to take the chequered flag.
However, within minutes of the race concluding, the race stewards confirmed an investigation into the matter that led to them making their judgment two hours later. The verdict resulted in a number of motor-racing personalities pouring scorn on the outcome.
Three-time former world champion Niki Lauda derided it as "the worst decision in the history of the Formula One".
McLaren immediately launched an appeal, despite FIA rules stating a drive-through penalty "is not susceptible to an appeal".
Although Hamilton obviously did not pass down the pit lane to take his penalty, it was applied retrospectively. FIA regulations make it clear if such a punishment is handed out in the last five laps, or at the end of a race, then it will be added to the driver's race time.
The rule was brought into force a few years ago to prevent the kind of situation reoccurring as unfolded when Michael Schumacher won a race in the pit lane while serving a drive-through penalty. Although McLaren lawyer Mark Phillips QC argued the penalty imposed in this instance was simply one of time - that can be appealed against - rather than a drive-through, it fell on deaf ears.
The judges - Xavier Conesa (Spain), Philippe Narmino (Monaco), Erich Sedelmayer (Austria), Harry Duijm (Netherlands) and Thierry Julliard (Switzerland) - took less than 24 hours to make up their minds.
The decision, however, is likely to increase Hamilton's determination to be crowned champion. He said: "People will probably expect me to be depressed about today's result, but that isn't me. 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."
McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh said: "We are naturally disappointed with today's verdict, and to have received no ruling on the substance of our appeal."
Driver standings
1. Lewis Hamilton (Brit) McLaren 78
2. Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 77
3. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 64
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 57
5. Nick Heidfeld (Ger)BMW Sauber53
