McLaren appeals Hamilton's Belgian Formula One penalty

LONDON: McLaren appealed on Tuesday against a stewards' decision to strip its Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton of victory in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

"We hereby confirm that we have now lodged notice of appeal," said the team's chief executive Martin Whitmarsh.

Formula One's governing body must still decide whether the appeal is admissible, however, and the controversy is sure to hang over next weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.