From GMM
The appeal against McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton's victory demotion at Spa-Francorchamps is likely to be heard before the end of this month, an FIA spokeswoman confirmed on Wednesday.
She said the Paris-based governing body is hopeful the International Court of Appeal can deal with the matter before the Singapore grand prix late in September, therefore ensuring that the outcome of the 2008 world championship does not hang on a procedural matter.
Also on Wednesday, the 23-year-old Briton Hamilton gave his first press interview since the Belgian grand prix.
He said he still feels he did nothing wrong during his wheel-to-wheel fight for the lead with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
"If I had done something wrong, I would be the first to admit it," Hamilton told the German newspaper Bild. "As a sportsman, this is something that is very important for me."
He said it did not take long to digest the information that the stewards had annulled his Belgian grand prix win.
"I do not feel guilty so there is nothing that I have to digest," Hamilton explained. "It would be another matter if I had let my team down, but I did not.
"I feel like I deserve ten points instead of six. On the other hand it could have been zero if I had damaged my car in the difficult conditions," he added.
The appeal against McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton's victory demotion at Spa-Francorchamps is likely to be heard before the end of this month, an FIA spokeswoman confirmed on Wednesday.
She said the Paris-based governing body is hopeful the International Court of Appeal can deal with the matter before the Singapore grand prix late in September, therefore ensuring that the outcome of the 2008 world championship does not hang on a procedural matter.
Also on Wednesday, the 23-year-old Briton Hamilton gave his first press interview since the Belgian grand prix.
He said he still feels he did nothing wrong during his wheel-to-wheel fight for the lead with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
"If I had done something wrong, I would be the first to admit it," Hamilton told the German newspaper Bild. "As a sportsman, this is something that is very important for me."
He said it did not take long to digest the information that the stewards had annulled his Belgian grand prix win.
"I do not feel guilty so there is nothing that I have to digest," Hamilton explained. "It would be another matter if I had let my team down, but I did not.
"I feel like I deserve ten points instead of six. On the other hand it could have been zero if I had damaged my car in the difficult conditions," he added.