Lewis Hamilton heads into the final four races of the season with a narrow one-point lead after McLaren's appeal against his drive-through penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix was ruled inadmissible.

The Formula One driver yesterday spent five-and-a-half hours at an FIA International Court of Appeal hearing in Paris hoping the decision of the stewards to demote him from race winner to third on the back of the 25-second penalty would be overturned.

Hamilton, perhaps unsurprised at the verdict, said: "People will probably expect me to be depressed about the result, but that isn't me. All I want to do now is put this matter behind me and get on with what we drivers do best - racing each other."

He added: "We're racers, we're naturally competitive and we love to overtake. Overtaking is difficult, and it feels great when you manage to pull off a great passing manoeuvre.

"If it pleases the spectators and TV viewers, it's better still. So I'm disappointed, yes, but not depressed."

The incident in question occurred at the end of lap 42 of the 44-lap race at Spa when Hamilton cut a chicane, gaining an advantage on reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Although the 23-year-old immediately allowed Raikkonen by to regain his lead, Hamilton surged past the Finn at the subsequent La Source hairpin before going on to take the chequered flag.

However, within minutes of the race concluding, the race stewards confirmed an investigation into the matter that led to them making their judgment two hours later.

The situation appeared wholly unsatisfactory, and resulted in a number of motor-racing personalities pouring scorn on the outcome.

Three-time former world champion Niki Lauda derided it as "the worst decision in the history of the Formula One".