Sunday, 7th September 2008 - 18:48CET
Updated: Hamilton stripped of Belgian GP victory, Massa wins
(Adds details)
Lewis Hamilton was stripped of a thrilling Belgian Grand Prix victory on Sunday in a decision that slashed the McLaren driver's Formula One lead over Ferrari's Felipe Massa to just two points.
Hours after the jubilant Briton had sprayed the winner's champagne on the podium, stewards ruled he had gained an advantage from cutting a chicane in an all-or-nothing duel with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen three laps from the end.
Hamilton was given a retrospective drive-through penalty, a controversial decision which translated into 25 seconds added to his race time.
That was enough to demote the 23-year-old to third place, with main title rival Massa taking his fifth victory of the season and Germany's Nick Heidfeld promoted to a surprise second for BMW-Sauber.
McLaren announced their intention to appeal, although it was not immediately clear whether it would be allowed under the sport's regulations.
A spokesman for the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said it would be up to the sport's International Court of Appeal to decide at a later date.
With five races remaining, and Ferrari's home Italian Grand Prix at Monza next up, Hamilton has 76 points to Massa's 74 with BMW-Sauber's Polish driver Robert Kubica third on 58.
World champion Raikkonen, who crashed out on the penultimate lap, slipped to fourth on 57 points with his title hopes as dented as his car.
Ferrari meanwhile stretched their lead over McLaren in the constructors' standings to 12 points.
RAIKKONEN CRASHES
"I have often said that the race is not over until the official results are published and that was the case today," said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali.
"This result is obviously very important for our championship hopes."
The stewards' enquiry overshadowed what had been one of Hamilton's best races with his most sensational finish of the season, and many disagreed with the outcome.
"I don't think Hamilton did anything wrong," said Niki Lauda, a former world champion for both Ferrari and McLaren. "He was going on the outside, he let him (Raikkonen) by...and afterwards he passed him."
Raikkonen, winner of the last three Belgian Grands Prix and chasing his first victory since April, had led from the second lap but Hamilton reeled him in as the skies opened and caused chaos two laps from the end.
Hamilton tried to pass at the Bus Stop chicane, went wide and allowed Raikkonen to get momentarily ahead on the straight before making a clean pass into La Source.
The Briton then slid at the top of the hill, allowing Raikkonen back in front before the Finn in turn slid and handed back the lead. The Finn then spun, narrowly missing traffic and crashing into the barriers.
"It was an experience and a half," said Hamilton before the stewards gave their verdict. "It was just mix and match. I was just praying for rain. I wanted it to come because I knew how to deal with it.
"It was one of the most exciting races of my career. I love having battles...I was on every limit that I knew possible, and even beyond."
The Briton was not available for comment afterwards and nor were team bosses.
Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso was fourth, despite pitting for wet tyres on the penultimate lap, with Germany's Sebastian Vettel fifth for Toro Rosso and Kubica sixth.
France's Sebastien Bourdais considerably enhanced his prospects of staying at Toro Rosso next season with seventh while Mark Webber of Australia took the final point for Red Bull after Germany's Timo Glock also picked up a 25-second penalty for overtaking under a yellow warning flag.
McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, who had started in third place, failed to finish but was listed as 10th after an error-strewn day that also included a drive-through penalty.
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Comments
Coincidences do occur in life............but do they always have to be on the same side
of the "fence"!!!!!!!!!!
Timo Glock was given a 25 seconds penalty well before Hamilton's penalty was announced. Be informed of what happened before posting.
To all McLaren fans complaining: Have you forgotten all the rulings by the FIA to favour Hamilton at all costs?
Ferrari International Aid. That is the real truth. By hook or By crook Ferrari must win!!!!!!
For a Change.....McLaren appealing again!!!! Better use their resources in producing a Championship Winning Car then writing stupid appeals. It's been a decade since they won a championship. (Of course, all Ferrari Fans must thank Lewis Hamilton for making History trashing a 17 point lead in 2 races thus rewarding Kimi a Championship! Bet nobody will ever break his record!)
"We looked at all our data and also made it available to the FIA stewards. It showed that, having lifted, Lewis was 6km/h slower than Kimi as they crossed the start/finish line.
"Having passed the lead back to Kimi, Lewis repositioned his car, moving across and behind Kimi to the right-hand line and then outbraked him into the hairpin. Based on this data, we have no option other than to register our intention to appeal.
"We are a racing team and now focus on Monza, with a view to extending our lead in the drivers' world championship".
i seem to remember a red car getting away with the same thing at Hungary in 2006, getting a point in the process and not even investigated. but anyhow. 6 points is always better than a smack into the wall. :)
It was such a shame that a great race ended with such a poor decision, particularly given that in the wild final laps of the race, Raikkonen did a number of things that might also have been punished. He appeared to use the high-friction run-off areas at Pouhon to gain advantage and close right up to Hamilton. He then clearly overtook Hamilton at a point where there was a waved yellow flag. He did not mean to do it, he was avoiding a collision with Nico Rosberg, who was rejoining the race after a spin, but it is also clear that Hamilton was doing everything he could do to avoid gaining an advantage from what he had done.
At the next corner Hamilton was able to scramble ahead and, after another gripping skirmish at Pouhon that lap, he went on to win as Raikkonen blew his chances of victory by first spinning and then crashing out of the race in the damp conditions. Hamilton made no such mistakes and took what was an impressive victory.
It was such a shame that a great race ended with such a poor decision, particularly given that in the wild final laps of the race, Raikkonen did a number of things that might also have been punished.
However this is not the case. Should McLaren lose the appeal I will definitely switch off watching this circus. How inconsistent the decisions are. Only two weeks ago, Massa was investigated after the race for dangerous driving exiting the pit-lane. The FIA rules clearly state that any infringement that occurs before the final 5 laps have to be investigated during the race. And guess what, Massa is penalised however no points had been taken off or a 25 second penalty imposed. They (FIA and their cronies) just imposed a measely sum as penalty.
the overtaking started when hamilton braked late at the bustop chicane and his car clearly went beyond raikonnen`s ferrari. (so no advantage) the collision was inevitable if both had to take the corner correctly, but hamilton had to give up cutting the corner. in my opinion hamilton` reaction to slow, and overtake the ferrari from the other side (again no advantage) was impeccable fast thinking.
it has been ages since we have seen something similar on track.....real racing.....something that every f1enthusiast appreciates in a driver even if its not his favorite!!! FIA:-{
No one mentioned that Mark Webber was overtaken by Timo Glock under yellow flags, which were waving in the wake of Raikkonen's race-ending crash, but there again he doesn't drive for the McLaren team.