FORMULA ONE

• Hamilton Belgian GP appeal denied

  
  

  Paris, France (Sports Network) - The FIA's International of Court of Appeal on Tuesday denied Lewis Hamilton's appeal to overturn a 25-second penalty that cost him the victory in the Belgian Grand Prix earlier this month.

  Hamilton, the current Formula One points leader, appeared before a five-judge panel in Paris on Monday to contest the timed penalty that was assessed to the McLaren driver by race stewards at Spa-Francorchamps after he gained an advantage by cutting a chicane while battling Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen for the lead in the final laps.

  Hamilton was originally declared the winner of the race, but dropped to third after the penalty was enforced.

  Raikkonen's teammate, Felipe Massa, crossed the finish line second but was credit with the victory.

  McLaren officials filed an appeal two weeks ago on the grounds their driver had relinquished the lead back to Raikkonen immediately following the incident.

  However, the court rejected McLaren's right to appeal.

  "Having heard the explanations of the parties the Court has concluded that the appeal is inadmissible," the FIA stated in their decision.

  The FIA also noted, "Article 152 of the International Sporting Code states that drive-through penalties are 'not susceptible to appeal'." Hamilton was disappointed by the outcome but pledged to concentrate on battling for the F1 championship with four races to go in the season.

  "People will probably expect me to be depressed about today's result, but that isn't me," Hamilton said.

  "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." Hamilton continues to hold only a one-point advantage over Massa in the World Championship standings with the next race, the inaugural, night-time running of the Singapore Grand Prix, scheduled for Sunday.

  09/23 12:57:36 ET