Whitmarsh: Justice will be served

Monday 22nd September 2008

Martin Whitmarsh is hoping to see justice served when Lewis Hamilton takes on the FIA's International Court of Appeal in Paris today.

Hamilton is seeking to overturn the retrospective 25-second penalty awarded by the stewards at the end of the Belgian Grand Prix which resulted in him being demoted from race winner to third.

If McLaren are successful, Hamilton would increase his lead in the Drivers' Championship over Felipe Massa from one point to seven, whilst the team would overhaul Ferrari in the Constructors' standings by a point.

The four judges will initially determine whether McLaren's appeal is admissible as under FIA rules a drive-through penalty "is not susceptible to an appeal".

Once that case is debated, the judges will then listen to McLaren's submissions in relation to the penalty awarded to Hamilton for 'cutting a corner and gaining an advantage'.

Ahead of the last four races, Hamilton could have a significant lead over Massa that could prove crucial come the end of the year.

Whitmarsh said: "We very much hope that will be the case, but clearly it's outside of our power. All we can do is present the facts.

"But I personally believe anyone who looks back at the race and is asked 'who deserved to win?', most people watching would say Lewis and not Felipe, who was half a minute behind.

"I'm probably slightly partisan on this, but I do actually believe that's what most people would imagine.

"We just have 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."

The verdict is not expected until Tuesday.

Your Comments

DarkDefender

"scorpion81177 - I wouldn't say he's "related to" James Allen and Mark Blundell, probably "intimate with" is a better description."

other44

"QUOTE: "But I personally believe anyone who looks back at the race and is asked 'who deserved to win?', most people watching would say Lewis and not Felipe, who was half a minute behind." ---- 'who deserved to win?'; Massa, Heidfeld, even Webber! ...obviously the person who didn't cheat!!

scorpion81177

"I can only compare this Martin Whitmarsh to John Major or Derek Redmond of the tory party. This "We will prevail" attitude in every aspect of Formula One and Lewis this and Lewis that has finally got me tempered enough to write in and ask why McLaren let this `yes man` do all the talking. If he bent over more we would perhaps here him better. This fool has his rose tinted specs on so much he probably thinks his cars are red. He gets an interview on every ITV race and quite frankly talks as though Lewis i the only one on the grid and he can do no wrong. He is probably related to James Allen and Mark Blundell. "

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