FIA rejects Hamilton’s SPA appeal
The FIA International Court of Appeal has rejected on Tuesday the McLaren-Mercedes appeal against the drive-though penalty for a chicane cut assigned to Lewis Hamilton at the end of the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix. According to the five FIA judges, McLaren’s appeal has been considered ‘inadmissible‘. With today’s decision, Hamilton remains third in the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix standings, while in the Drivers’ Championship he keeps the lead over Felipe Massa by one point.
The International Court of Appeal was presided over by Mr Philippe NARMINO (Monaco), elected President, and composed of Mr Xavier CONESA (Spain), Mr Harry DUIJM (Netherlands), Mr Thierry JULLIARD (Switzerland) and Mr Erich SEDELMAYER (Austria).
At the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps on September 7th 2008, Lewis Hamilton was penalised for his maneuvers performed during the final laps of the race, while he was fighting with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen for P1. The Briton passed the reigning world champion after a chicane cut. Hamilton then left Raikkonen overtake him again, but before Turn 1, he attacked and passed again the Finn.
According to the race stewards, the Briton had gained an advantage right when he cut the chicane. According to McLaren-Mercedes, instead, Hamilton’s maneuvre had been judged legal by the FIA race Director Charlie Whiting.
Hamilton, stated the FIA Court of Appeal, ‘had been penalised with a drive-through penalty at the end of the race and on the basis of Article 16.3 of the Formula One Sporting Regulations the Stewards added 25 seconds to the driver’s race time. Article 152 of the International Sporting Code states that drive-through penalties are ‘not susceptible to appeal’.
Therefore, ‘the Court has concluded that the appeal is inadmissible.’. The Drivers’ Championship standings, however, remains unchanged, with Hamilton (78 points) leading just one point ahead of Felipe Massa (77 points).
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I THINK FIA HAS LOST THEIR JOB AND RULES BECAUSE THIS PANELTY GIVEN TO LEWIS HAMILTON WAS’NT CORRECT FROM THEM. THIS IS MOTOR SPORT RACE,
THANKS TO MAX MOSSLY AND THE MAFIAS. FERRARI TEAM HAS FOUND THEIR FATHER WHEN EVER THEY THINK THEY CANT MAKE IT. THEY JUST CONSULT THE FIA.
Well, while I don’t personally agree with your statements, I do believe that the International Sporting Code has to be revised…I mean, Art. 152 which states that drive-through penalties are ‘not susceptible to appeal’, seems completely a nonsense to me.
Yeah, true… the FIA rejected Hamilton’s appeal, but at least they should have given a more technical reason other than that of art.152
F1 appears to be as corrupt as boxing to me. Ferrari grease the pockets of F1 admin and this is the outcome, outrageous.
Hamilton DESERVED the penalty as HE HAD GAINED AN ADVANTAGE with the chicane cut! Full stop.