McLaren star denied seven point lead at Paris hearing

Despite laying the verbal smackdown on Ferrari lawyer Nigel Tozzi QC, Lewis Hamilton has lost his appeal to rescind the 25 second time penalty he incurred in Spa:

“Article 152 of the International Sporting Code states that drive-through penalties are ‘not susceptible to appeal’,” the FIA said in a statement.

“Having heard the explanations of the parties, the court has concluded that the appeal is inadmissible.”

Hamilton, who has now arrived in Singapore ahead of this weekend’s night race, will be massively disappointed by the outcome which leaves him just one point clear in the Driver’s Championship.

Was the outcome of the hearing fair? Let us know what you think with a comment below.

(British) F1 fans campaign to overrule time penalty

When it was submitted to the FIA morning, an online petition to reinstate Lewis Hamilton as winner of the Belgium Grand Prix had over 32,000 signatures, and thousands more have been showing their disgruntlement since.

If you haven’t already, get involved here.

Winning Belgium is dangerous for Championship contenders

Lewis Hamilton’s cruelly-revoked victory in Belgium may represent the demise of Formula 1 as we know and love it, but it’s quite possible decision has worked in the young Swiss driver’s favour. In fact,  the handsome devils over at chickendinner suggests that the next time Hamilton sees the three stewards who felt the need to reward Ferrari’s misfortune, he should give them all a hug.

Here’s why:

1. Only four of the last 14 Belgian Grand Prix winners have gone on to win the Drivers Championship.

2. The last two British winners there - Damon Hill in 1998 and David Coulthard in 1999 - have failed to finish on the podium in the remaining races that season.

3. Felipe Massa has never won three consecutive races, which