McLaren Mercedes have said they intend to appeal against the decision to strip Lewis Hamilton of victory in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.
Race stewards decided that Hamilton had cut a chicane and gained an advantage while battling Ferrari's World Champion Kimi Raikkonen for the lead at Spa-Francorchamps.
A retrospective drive-through penalty of 25 seconds was applied at the end of the race, meaning that Hamilton dropped from first place to third.
With Ferrari's Felipe Massa promoted to the race win and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld moving up to second, Hamilton's Championship lead over the Brazilian now stands at just two points.
A team spokesman said: "We have no option other than to register our intention to appeal.
"We have studied the details and put them before the FIA stewards.
"They show that after cutting the chicane Lewis lifted off, he was 6km/h slower than Kimi.
"After conceding the lead to Kimi, Lewis repositioned his car on the right and beat Kimi on the brakes going into the hairpin."
Hamilton is adamant he did nothing wrong, and explained what transpired at the critical moment of the race, which could potentially prove a pivotal moment in the championship.
"It began to rain," said Hamilton.
"I caught Kimi and I got a good tow from him down the back straight and I was in a good position to dive down the inside at turn 18.
"He covered his spot, which was fair, but he braked very early, so I was able to outbrake him and go around the outside, which I did.
"I left him enough room. I didn't close the gap so much that he had to go on a kerb.
"Yet he accelerated, or picked up more pace going into the corner, and drove me as wide as he possibly could. I had no road left.
"There was a question I had to ask: if I stay where I am, I'm going to go over the Astroturf - there's some of it behind the last kerb - or go over it and hit him. Or I go left.
"That was the option I had to do, and I did it.
"But I knew I had to let him past, and also the team came over the radio and said 'you have to let him past' which I did.
"I was accelerating so that I didn't lose too much ground because I thought that would be unfair.
"Fortunately I got back in his slipstream, and again he moved to the inside and back to the outside.
"Again, I dodged him and went up the inside and at the apex to the corner he hit me at the back, and that nearly caused me to spin.
"Fortunately I kept hold of it and went on from there. That was a great fight and I don't think there was anything wrong there.
"The rules say you should let him back past which I did."
While McLaren have registered their intent to appeal, FIA rules state that is not possible in relation to a drive-through penalty.
The matter could now revert to the FIA Court of Appeal who will determine whether there is a case to answer with regard to McLaren's protest.
1 comment:
Hello McLaren,
We feel the Committee dealing with any form of GP controversy should be perhaps Ex Racing Drivers and the like, understanding all aspects AND NOT liable to bribery and corruption. This is NOT doing the Sport any good.
Farrari were always going to OBJECT because this is the essence of their very being.
I have also stated my thoughts to the Daily Mail but thats the last of that
Good Luck we are all supporting you even our Jack Russells barked most of Sunday afternoon in excitment {how sad is that !!}
Laura and Mike Lewis Isle of Man
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