- 22 Sep 08, 16:08#67065From Planet F1:
Hill: It would be a travesty
Monday 22nd September 2008
Former F1 Champion Damon Hill is hoping McLaren win their appeal against Lewis Hamilton's Belgian GP penalty when they face the FIA today.
McLaren and Hamilton are in Paris today for the International Court of Appeal hearing in the hope of overturning Hamilton's retrospective 25-second Belgian drive-through penalty.
One man who is rooting for their cause is Hill, who reckons the penalty should not be allowed to determine the outcome of the Championship.
"It would be a travesty if Lewis Hamilton were to be denied the World Championship because of the points lost in Belgium," Hill told the Mail on Sunday.
"The decision after the Belgium Grand Prix, which provided a fantastic display of what F1 has to offer, raises the spectre once more of whether the sport is contested on a level playing field, or whether it is slanted towards Ferrari."
Should McLaren fail in their bid Hamilton will only have a one-point lead over Ferrari's Felipe Massa. However, should their appeal be upheld, the Brit's advantage will increase to seven points.
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.
Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988,
1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998,
1999, 2007McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008
