McLaren's Lewis appeal date set

Updated 17.22 Sat Oct 27 2007

Keywords: McLaren, Lewis Hamilton, Formula One, sport

Lewis Hamilton's hopes of becoming Formula One's first rookie champion could be decided on November 15 when the FIA's International Court of Appeal hears McLaren's appeal.

Hamilton's team are appealing against Brazilian Grand Prix race stewards' decision not to penalise Williams' Nico Rosberg and BMW duo Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld for fuel irregularities at Interlagos last Sunday.

"For us, the world championship is over, the result is what it is. A team presented an appeal; at the moment, this doesn't change anything - it's up to them to prove they are right" - FIA president Max Mosley

And if they are successful, those teams could be disqualified from the race, which could also mean Hamilton being elevated from seventh to fourth position and so see him pip Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen to the World Drivers' Championship title.

As things stand, Raikkonen picked up his first World Drivers' Championship crown by one point from Hamilton.

And FIA president Max Mosley said: "For us, the world championship is over, the result is what it is.

"A team presented an appeal; at the moment, this doesn't change anything - it's up to them to prove they are right."

Mosley continued: "You could argue whether McLaren had a right to appeal. They could have protested the result, but they didn't. Apparently they didn't measure the temperature of the fuel.

"But even if the cars classified ahead of Hamilton would be excluded, would this change his position? The court of appeal will have to rule on that."