Lewis Hamilton's appeal to be reinstated as the winner of the Belgian Grand Prix has been rejected. The governing body of Formula 1 racing (the FIA) has explained that Hamilton’s appeal attempt is inadmissible and would not be entertained under ordinary circumstances.

The young Englishman was demoted to third place after cutting a chicane in the final laps of the race earlier this month and now stands only a point ahead of rival Felipe Massa going into the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

McLaren Mercedes, Hamilton’s team, fears that the hour that Lewis spent at the International Court of Appeal in Paris did absolutely nothing for his case. Hamilton explained that he cut across the Bus Stop chicane to avoid a crash with leader, Kimi Räikkönen, rather than to gain an advantage over the Finn.

The McLaren Mercedes defence team endeavoured to convince the judges that the infraction in question was a matter of time rather than a “drive-through” offence. If the team had been successful, the charges would have elicited a greater response from the panel and his seven point lead over Massa may have been re-established.

Hamilton told reporters that he was disappointed with the FIA’s decision but not depressed: “All I want to do is put this matter behind me and get on with what we drivers do best – racing each other.” He is said to be excited about racing in the first flood-lit Grand Prix at the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore and determined to make up for the points he lost at this week’s hearing in Paris.

Written by Chris Illingworth