McLaren have said they intend to appeal against a stewards’ decision that stripped their Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton of victory in the Belgian Grand Prix.
“We have no option other than to register our intention to appeal,” said a team spokesman.
It was not clear whether any appeal would be allowed under the sport’s rules, however.
Stewards decided Hamilton had cut the chicane and gained an advantage while battling Ferrari’s world champion Kimi Raikkonen for the lead.
Meanwhile, Hamilton denied that he had gained any advantage.
McLaren have announced their intention to lodge an appeal against Hamilton’s penalty. Their data shows he was travelling 3.7mph slower than Raikkonen as the two cars crossed the start-finish line immediately after the incident, with the Finn ahead, and they believe this proves their driver had conformed to the rules. It is not yet known whether the sport’s judiciary will allow a penalty of this kind to be contested.
“It’s inconceivable that you shouldn’t be able to appeal in a situation like this,” Stewart said. “It could affect the world championship’s outcome.”
Other leading motorsport figures have also condemned the penalty. Niki Lauda, another triple world champion who raced for both Ferrari and McLaren, called it F1’s “biggest mess ever”, while British racing icon Sir Stirling Moss said: “I thought it was an absolutely appalling decision.”
In a statement, McLaren said: “We have studied the details and put them before the FIA stewards.
“They show that after cutting the chicane Lewis lifted off, he was six kph slower than Kimi [Raikkonen].
“After conceding the lead to Kimi, Lewis repositioned his car on the right and beat Kimi on the brakes going into the hairpin.”
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