Motorsport: McLaren appeal loss of points

The pit lane debacle that saw McLaren lose 15 points in the constructors' championship.Photo / Reuters

LONDON - McLaren are appealing against the team's loss of points in the Formula One constructors' championship at last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton won the race and team mate Fernando Alonso came fourth in Budapest on Monday (NZ time), but the 15 points for the constructors' title were not awarded to McLaren due to a controversy in qualifying on Sunday.

Alonso had initially taken pole position but only after the Spaniard blocked Hamilton in the pit-lane, denying the British driver a chance to set a faster lap at the end of the session.

Alonso was relegated to sixth place on the grid, Hamilton was promoted to pole and the team were barred from scoring points other than in the drivers' championship.

A McLaren spokeswoman said that Britain's Motor Sports Association had lodged an appeal on the team's behalf.

It will be heard by motor sport's International Court of Appeal.

- REUTERS