McLaren appeal over fuel row could hand Hamilton world title after Brazilian heartbreak

The British driver's quest for an historic title in his first season looked to have died after he finished the season one point behind race winner Kimi Raikkonen following yesterday's dramatic Brazilian Grand Prix.

But his McLaren team decided to appeal late last night over possible illegal fuel used by the three drivers directly ahead of him at Interlagos - Williams' Nico Rosberg and BMW pair Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld.

The stewards who investigated the matter for six-and-a-half hours decided not to penalise the trio because they could not prove the fuel in their cars definitely fell more than 10 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature, which would have given them an advantage of up to two seconds a lap for the first three circuits after each fuel stop.

A McLaren spokeswoman confirmed: "We will be appealing."

In the unlikely event the FIA grant their wish, Hamilton might be moved up to fourth - and that would give him five points and the title.

Hamilton's disastrous start, compounded by a faulty gearbox, left him stranded down the field.

After finishing seventh, he said: "I am pretty disappointed having led for so much of the season. But you have to put it into perspective. This is my first year in Formula One and it has been phenomenal. I'll bounce back."

Starting second, Hamilton had a moment of madness on Turn 4, veering off the track after trying to regain places lost in the opening moments. Then, on the eighth lap, his gearbox, selected neutral, causing him to slip back to 18th. He clawed his way through the field, but never looked likely to threaten Raikkonen.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis said: 'There was an incorrect command given to the system. In many ways Lewis was trying to stay out of problems. Maybe if he was just going for it, things would have been slightly different, but he didn't.

"We had the pace to win the world championship. The only reason we didn't was the gearbox problem."

Raikkonen's win gave Ferrari the drivers' crown to go with the constructors' title McLaren forfeited over their role in the spying row.

Raikkonen's triumph was a riposte to those who wrote him off as a lazy playboy.

However, he was typically underwhelmed, saying: "We showed we could perform when it mattered. I'm happy."

Hamilton's team-mate Fernando Alonso, whose third place also left him a point short, paid tribute to the man who replaced him on top of the world.

He said: "Congratulations to Kimi. On the day he deserved it. I had a good start but it was impossible to keep pace with the Ferraris."

Hamilton, aiming to become the first rookie champion, added: "Kimi drove well and deserves the title. It's been a crazy year and I honestly can't say I'm gutted. I'm not. Apart from the first lap, I drove one of my best races."

Final positions at Interlagos:

1. K Raikkonen (Ferrari)

2. F Massa (Ferrari)

3. F Alonso (McLaren)

4. R Kubica (BMW Sauber)

5. N Rosberg (Williams)

Others:

7. L Hamilton (McLaren)