Hamilton waits on McLaren F1 appeal

Updated 10.25 Wed Oct 24 2007

Keywords: Nico Rosberg, Williams, Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, Nick Heidfeld, Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, McLaren, Lewis Hamilton, Formula One, sport

Lewis Hamilton is set to learn next month whether he is to be crowned Formula One's first rookie world champion after all.

The 22-year-old Briton's team McLaren has made a formal appeal to the FIA against the outcome of the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton's team McLaren has made a formal appeal to the FIA against the outcome of the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix

World Motor sport's governing body is expected to hear the case next month, in which McLaren will claim race stewards were wrong not to penalise Williams' Nico Rosberg and BMW duo Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld for fuel irregularities at Interlagos on Sunday.

And if their appeal is 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.

The FIA said on its website: "The FIA has been informed by the Secretariat of the International Court of Appeal that they have received a Notification of Appeal from the UK National Sporting Authority (RAC MSA) on behalf of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

"The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes appeal is against the decision of the Stewards of the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix, made at 21.35 hrs on October 21st 2007 (document number 41), that it was inappropriate to impose a penalty on cars nine, ten, 16 and 17."

Gearbox problems in Brazil ultimately saw Hamilton finish a point behind race winner Raikkonen in the overall Championship standings.