Hamilton to blame for Spa farce, says Massa

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Hamilton's McLaren team have vowed to fight the decision of FIA stewards to demote their man to third place for overtaking reigning champion Kimi Raikkonen, Massa's Ferrari team-mate, after cutting a chicane at the climax to a dramatic race at rain-hit Spa.

But Massa, provisionally handed a win that sees him close to within two points of Hamilton, believes McLaren have no case.

And ahead of Ferrari's home Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Sunday, the Brazilian believes Hamilton only has himself to blame for the controversial 25 second punishment.

"What Lewis did is the sort of thing that can happen," said Massa. "But I think he was maybe a bit too optimistic in thinking he could just hand back the position and then immediately try and pass Kimi again.

"If Lewis had taken the chicane correctly, he would never have been able to pass Kimi on the very short straight that follows it. Maybe if Lewis had waited and tried to pass on the next straight, that would have been different."

Kenyan Surinder Thathi, one of the three stewards involved, today dismissed suggestions of a conspiracy against the McLaren team.

"We acted within the FIA rules," Thathi said.

"I know I am a very unpopular person in the United Kingdom now but I was doing my job and I acted professionally."