Sep.22 (GMM) The International Court of Appeal will publish its decision about McLaren's Lewis Hamilton Spa-Francorchamps appeal on Tuesday.
The FIA court is set to hear the matter in Paris on Monday morning, after the Mercedes-powered team objected to race stewards' imposition of a 25-second penalty for illegal overtaking that retrospectively cost championship leader Hamilton his Belgian grand prix win.Up for grabs are the six points the 23-year-old Briton lost as a result of his demotion from first to third place, and Massa's promotion, but the court's first task will be to rule on whether McLaren's appeal is even admissible.Although just days before official action kicks off under lights in Singapore, Hamilton will personally attend the hearing, to take place at the FIA's Place de la Concorde headquarters."We have to have faith in the system, and in the fairness of the FIA International Court of Appeal," said McLaren boss Ron Dennis.The team's lawyers are expected to argue two key points: that Hamilton had to cut the Bus Stop chicane to avoid colliding with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, and that he then voluntarily ceded the gained place back to the Finn before launching a new pass at La Source one corner later.In addition to the real-time advice given by race director Charlie Whiting, McLaren might also be holding some undisclosed evidence close to its chest, according to the German press."We are not going to discuss the hearing with the media in advance, so we ask for your understanding," Mercedes' Norbert Haug told the news agency SID.Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is also reluctant to comment."I just hope that the rules are upheld," the Italian said.
