The saga over the outcome of the Belgian Grand Prix is set to continue after McLaren followed through on their initial protests over Lewis Hamilton’s drive-through penalty.
The team confirmed they had lodged notice to appeal the 25-second penalty, which resulted in Hamilton’s finishing place being downgraded from first to third by race stewards.
Now the case will be put before the International Court of Appeal.
Confusion reigns over whether or not the FIA even have a case to answer due to Article 152 of the governing body’s International Sporting Code which states a drive-through penalty is ’not susceptible to appeal’.
McLaren will contend there are exceptional circumstances in this instance, and if they convince the ICA of such a fact, they will then seek to overturn the stewards’ decision.
This latest affair centres around an incident at the end of lap 42 where the stewards deemed Hamilton ’cut a corner and gained an advantage’.
After attempting to pass Kimi Raikkonen around the outside on entry to the final chicane, Hamilton was forced to cut the corner.
Returning to the Spa track along the pit straight, the 23-year-old temporarily held the lead before correctly handing it back.
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