Sep.7 (GMM) McLaren has informed the stewards at Spa-Francorchamps of their intention to appeal the decision to strip Lewis Hamilton of victory at the Belgian grand prix, the FIA confirmed on Saturday evening.
The official news means the result will now remain provisional until a hearing of the International Court of Appeal.Ferrari's Felipe Massa was declared the official winner of the Belgian grand prix after stewards issued championship leader Hamilton with a retrospective 25 second penalty.The penalty, which would have been a drive-through had the incident not occurred so close to the end of the 44-lap race, turned his victory into third place.Stewards deemed Hamilton did not properly allow Kimi Raikkonen to re-pass after overtaking the Ferrari driver by cutting the Bus Stop chicane with 3 laps to go.Hamilton did let the Finn pass him after the chicane, but he then used the slipstream of the Ferrari to immediately launch a successful overtaking move at the next corner.Ferrari, meanwhile, clarified that while team officials did attend the stewards' investigation, no official protest was lodged.
