FIA presses ahead with McLaren’s Hungary points appeal

(GMM) F1's governing body is pressing ahead with preparations for McLaren's appeal against the stewards penalty that was handed down in Hungary.

The Woking based team was docked its constructors' championship points in Budapest, following Fernando Alonso's pit stop obstruction maneuver against teammate Lewis Hamilton in qualifying.

But even though the Woking based outfit was last Thursday kicked out of the constructors' world championship for espionage, the FIA announced on Monday that the McLaren appeal "will be heard on Wednesday 19 September 2007" in Paris, as earlier scheduled.

Team boss Ron Dennis has not yet decided whether to appeal the World Motor Sport Council's spy verdict, so going ahead with the Hungary appeal may not be as futile as it appears.

But even if McLaren does not appeal its championship exclusion, the 15 points deprived of the team in Hungary might be crucial for the team in offsetting the $100m fine.

The World Motor Sport Council clarified in its verdict last Thursday that the record fine would be "less the FOM income lost as a result of the points deduction".

Formula One Management income is calculated each year based on a team's finishing position in the constructors' championship standings.