A Formula One appeal court on Tuesday rejected McLaren's bid to have championship leader Lewis Hamilton reinstated as Belgian Grand Prix winner.

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement the judges had deemed the appeal inadmissible.

The decision meant Hamilton will start Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix with a one-point lead over Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa, rather than the seven points he would have had if the Belgian stewards' decision had been overturned.

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