- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: MOTOR RACING - Formula One title appeal hearing starts
- Date: 16th November 2007
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 15, 2007) ( REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE WOOLGATE BUILDING WHERE MEETING IS TAKING PLACE CLOSE UP OF SIGN FOR LONDON LAW FIRM SIDLEY AUSTIN WHERE MEETING IS TAKING PLACE SAM MICHAELS, WILLIAMS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR ARRIVES, GOES THROUGH REVOLVING DOOR BMW SAUBER DELEGATION ARRIVES, INCLUDING WILLI RAMPH, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR (DARK HAIR, DARK COAT WITH COLLAR UPTURNED) CAMERAMEN RAMPH IN FOYER WITH OTHERS FERRARI DELEGATION ARRIVES, ENTER BUILDING MEMBERS OF FERRARI DELEGATION IN FOYER OF BUILDING MCLAREN DELEGATION ARRIVE AND ENTER BUILDING INCLUDING MARTIN WHITMARSH, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, MCLAREN GROUP (WEARING BLUE PIN STRIPE SUIT AND DARK RED TIE) WHITMARSH AND MEMBERS OF MCLAREN DELEGATION IN FOYER
- Embargoed: 1st December 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA4Z1G8UAQ9M9Y88RWXRNVWS7HL
- Story Text: Representatives of four Formula One teams arrive for an FIA international appeal court hearing that will either confirm Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen as 2007 Formula One champion or hand the title to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.
An international appeal court began a hearing on Thursday (November 15) that will either confirm Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen as 2007 Formula One champion or hand the title to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.
The four judges met in London with representatives of the two teams, as well as BMW Sauber and Williams, to hear an appeal by McLaren against a stewards' decision at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix last month.
An International Automobile Federation (FIA) spokeswoman said a judgment was likely to come on Friday.
Raikkonen won the drivers' title from 22-year-old rookie Hamilton by a single point but fuel samples from the three cars that finished ahead of Hamilton in that race were found to have used fuel that was cooler than the regulations allow.
McLaren appealed after the race stewards decided not to impose sanctions on the BMW Sauber and Williams cars due to what they said were "considerable discrepancies" in the data.
If the three drivers are disqualified and McLaren's Hamilton is promoted from seventh to fourth, the 22-year-old rookie would leapfrog Finn Raikkonen in the final standings to become the youngest champion.
However, the stewards do not have to move Hamilton up the race order and the Briton has said he wanted to win the title on the track and not in a courtroom.
The four independent judges, meeting at London law firm Sidley Austin, were named as John Cassidy (U.S.), Vassilis Koussis (Greece), Jose Macedo e Cunha (Portugal) and Jan Stovicek (Czech Republic). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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