Whitmarsh hopes for successful Hamilton appeal
Martin Whitmarsh (centre) is hoping for a successful appeal
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Monday, 22, Sep 2008 05:25
McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh is hoping to mount a successful appeal against Lewis Hamilton's 25-second penalty imposed by stewards after the Belgian grand prix.
Hamilton won the race on the track, ahead of Ferrari driver Felipe Massa and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, but was demoted to third behind the two other drivers after he was found to have illegally passed Kimi Raikkonen in the closing stages.
However, McLaren representatives - including both Hamilton and Whitmarsh - are today appearing in front of an appeals panel of the formula one governing body, the FIA, in Paris in a bid to overturn the ruling.
"All we can do is present the facts," Whitmarsh said.
"Most people who were watching would say Lewis deserved to win that race and not Felipe.
"I'm probably slightly partisan on this but I do actually believe that's what most people would imagine.
"We have just got 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."