Hamilton Loses Belgian GP Appeal

Shar · Hamilton Loses Belgian GP Appeal

Source Sky News

Racing driver Lewis Hamilton has lost an appeal to have his win at the Belgian Grand Prix reinstated.

Formula One's governing body, the FIA, ruled that the appeal was "inadmissible" and that a 25-second penalty for cutting a chicane should stand.

The British McLaren driver was adjudged to have cut the corner during a duel with Finnish rival Kimi Raikkonen in the closing laps of the race at Spa.

Race officials overturned his win and demoted him to third in the belief that he had gained an unfair advantage.

The confirmation of Hamilton's third place means that rival Felipe Massa of Ferrari was awarded the race win, which slashes the Briton's lead in the drivers' championship to a single point.

But the 23-year-old 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."

Hamilton had told the panel in Paris he had taken the chicane to avoid a collision with Raikkonen and had given the Finn back the lead on the straight that followed.

Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni said the team had no comment about the FIA decision.

Had he won his appeal, Hamilton would have been seven points clear with four races to go.

The Briton now has 76 points, one point ahead of Massa, with Poland's Robert Kubica, of BMW Sauber, on third with 58.

The next race is a night extravaganza in Singapore on Sunday.