Monday, September 22, 2008

WHITMARSH HOPEFUL OF APPEAL SUCCESS

WHITMARSH HOPEFUL OF APPEAL SUCCESS

Hamilton - could see his lead increased.

Martin Whitmarsh is hoping to see justice served when Lewis Hamilton takes on the FIA's International Court of Appeal in Paris.

Hamilton is seeking to overturn the retrospective 25-second penalty awarded by the stewards at the end of the Belgian Grand Prix which resulted in him being demoted from race winner to third.

If McLaren are successful, Hamilton would increase his lead in the drivers' championship over Felipe Massa from one point to seven, whilst the team would overhaul Ferrari in the constructors' standings by a point.

The four judges will initially determine whether McLaren's appeal is admissible as under FIA rules a drive-through penalty "is not susceptible to an appeal".

Once that case is debated, the judges will then listen to McLaren's submissions in relation to the penalty awarded to Hamilton for 'cutting a corner and gaining an advantage'.

Ahead of the last four races, Hamilton could have a significant lead over Massa that could prove crucial come the end of the year.

Whitmarsh said: "We very much hope that will be the case, but clearly it's outside of our power. All we can do is present the facts.

"But I personally believe anyone who looks back at the race and is asked 'who deserved to win?', most people watching would say Lewis and not Felipe, who was half a minute behind.

"I'm probably slightly partisan on this, but I do actually believe that's what most people would imagine.

"We just have to present the data, and whatever the outcome is, that is the outcome.

"We are not counting on those points. We hold the lead at the moment in the drivers' championship by one slender point and we can expand upon that in the coming races."

Hamilton was penalised for cutting the Bus Stop chicane at the Spa circuit at the end of lap 42 of the 44-lap race.

The 23-year-old claims he did so to avoid a collision with Kimi Raikkonen, and although his manoeuvre allowed him to pass, he quickly gave any advantage back to the Finn.

However, the move was contentious as Hamilton's momentum coming out of the corner apparently allowed him to slipstream Raikkonen and pass him again into the subsequent La Source hairpin.

McLaren will argue that race director Charlie Whiting, when asked twice whether Hamilton had fairly given back the advantage and the move was legitimate, said "okay" on each occasion.

Despite this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix looming, Hamilton is to attend the hearing as it is believed his presence may prove crucial to McLaren's cause.

Hamilton will be joined by Whitmarsh, race engineer Phil Prew, the team's director of legal affairs Tim Murnane, with London law firm Baker McKenzie serving as their legal representatives.

Despite the proximity of the race, Hamilton will head out of Paris tonight and on to Singapore, insisting the appeal does not serve as a distraction.

"As I've said before, I feel like I won that race," Hamilton said.

"What happened, happened, and I'll move on whatever the result, and then I'll focus on getting more points in the next few races.

"I'll continue to prove that. There's nothing that can put me off or bring me down."

The judges will announce their verdict on Tuesday.



  • HAMILTON GETS APPEAL DATE
  • McLAREN PLAN HAMILTON APPEAL
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