MONZA, Italy — FIA agreed to hear McLaren’s appeal of the drive-through penalty that cost Lewis Hamilton the Belgian Grand Prix.
The governing body said Friday the hearing will take place at FIA’s Paris headquarters on Sept. 22 in front of the body’s International Court of Appeal — six days before the Singapore GP. A decision is expected the next day.
Hamilton was penalized 25 seconds after being deemed to have gained an unfair advantage over race leader Kimi Raikkonen by cutting across a chicane. Hamilton ceded his place to the Ferrari driver but overtook soon after.
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa was handed the victory to move to two points of F1 championship leader Hamilton, who was pushed down to third place.
It was initially unclear whether McLaren could appeal a drive-through penalty but the appeal was given the go-ahead since the 25-second penalty was imposed at the end of the race.
Massa had finished nearly 15 seconds back of Hamilton, who maintained that he did not gain any advantage despite quickly overtaking Raikkonen.
On Thursday, Hamilton pointed the finger at Raikkonen for braking too early.
“That is how he drives. If you don’t … brake late then that is your problem,” said the 23-year-old Briton, who was demoted to third behind BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld as a result of the penalty.
MONZA, Italy — Fernando Alonso’s Formula One future was further shrouded in doubt following Ferrari’s extension of Kimi Raikkonen’s contract.
The Renault driver had spoken openly about a possible future with Ferrari, but that door was slammed shut on Friday when the Italian team announced that defending world champion Raikkonen would keep his seat through 2010. Teammate Felipe Massa is also under contract for the next two years.
“Talking about 2010 or 2011, this seems crazy to me,” Alonso told reporters from the Italian Grand Prix. “I cannot put my future two years forward. I want to win races as soon as possible … and this is starting from 2009.”
Asked when he would decide his future, the two-time world champion could only throw his head back and laugh.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I just need to make sure of what the possibilities are for next year and how Renault will approach next year. I will decide as soon as I can.”
Although Honda and BMW Sauber are reportedly interested in the Spanish driver, Alonso said upcoming rule changes had only made it more difficult to gauge which teams would contend and which team to choose.
“It’s more a gamble than ever I think next year,” the 27-year-old Alonso said. “Anything can happen.”
Alonso signed a two-year contract to return to Renault after a turbulent season at McLaren, where poor relations with teammate Lewis Hamilton and team principal Ron Dennis soured relationships beyond repair. But it’s been a difficult homecoming, with Alonso frustrated by his car’s lack of competitiveness.
An 18th-place showing in practice at the Monza circuit on Friday summed up his difficulties.
“(It’s) nothing new. We don’t have the pace, we don’t have the speed, the traction, the braking stability, the curves driving,” Alonso said.
But he said he still has belief in his team, even if he is 53 points behind F1 leader Hamilton.
“I joined them last year because I believe in this team. I believe we can win races like two years ago,” he said. “Two years ago Renault was world champion so they should know how to make a fast car.
“This year is not as good as we thought and I need to see if (next year’s car) will be any better. If not, obviously, I will try to choose my best possibility for next year.”
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