23 Sep 2008

Hamilton fronts F1 hearing

6:56 pm on 23 September 2008

A defiant Lewis Hamilton has fronted a Formula One appeal court in Paris, saying he gained no advantage from a chicane-cutting controversy that cost him victory in the Belgian Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old McLaren driver was relegated from first to third at Spa-Francorchamps earlier this month after cutting a chicane in a thrilling duel over the closing laps with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

Subject to his appeal, his lead in the title race is only one point over Felipe Massa.

Hamilton says he wasn't going to be intimidated at the hearing.

McLaren's case hinges on advice from the race director Charlie Whiting who'd told the team at the time of the incident that Hamilton was clear to attack Raikkonen at the next corner, but Whiting said after revisiting the incident, his original advice was wrong.

The court's verdict is expected tonight.