Hamilton: I'm still on track after hearing

Published on Tuesday 23 September 2008 10:06

LEWIS HAMILTON is unlikely to be too perturbed if five judges today rule against the McLaren Formula One team following yesterday's International Court of Appeal hearing in Paris.

Hamilton emerged from the five-and-a-half-hour session looking cool and relaxed despite spending an hour answering questions as he attempted to defend his move at the recent Belgian Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old refused to be treated like "an idiot", as he put it, as he faced cross-examination from Ferrari's QC, Nigel Tozzi, who last year took McLaren to the cleaners in the spy saga hearings.

Instead, Hamilton last night headed out to Singapore wiser for his experience.

"It was long and intense," remarked Hamilton on his day in court. "I said what was on my mind because in that position you can be talked down to. But by no means am I an idiot. I had a right to my opinion. I am now just going to focus on my next race and hopefully winning there."

Hamilton could have a seven-point lead over Ferrari's Felipe Massa going into this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix if the decision goes his way.

The judges will initially determine whether McLaren's appeal against a retrospective 25-second drive-through penalty imposed by the race stewards is admissable.