Motor Sport Formula One appeal: Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen has been confirmed as 2007 Formula One world champion after a court rejected a McLaren appeal that could have handed Lewis Hamilton the title instead.
The governing International Automobile Federation's (FIA) independent court of appeal, whose four judges had met in London for the hearing on Thursday, said McLaren's protest had been rejected.
"Having heard the explanations of both parties and having examined the various documents and other evidence, the court decided that the appeal lodged by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is inadmissible," it said.
McLaren had appealed against the decision of stewards at last month's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix not to penalise BMW Sauber and Williams drivers after an inquiry into temperature irregularities.
Although McLaren said they simply wanted to clarify the rules, any disqualification of the three drivers who finished ahead of Hamilton and subsequent reallocation of points would have changed the outcome of the championship.
Finland's Raikkonen, who won at Interlagos on October 21st, beat Hamilton (22), by a point.
Hamilton, who would have been the youngest champion as well as the first rookie to take the title, had been favourite for the crown before his lead evaporated in the last two races in China and Brazil.
The Briton finished seventh in the final race, behind BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica and Williams' Nico Rosberg.
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