Lewis Hamilton failed to have his win at the Belgian Grand Prix reinstated after world motor sport body FIA sustained a 25-second sanction against him for cutting a chicane.

The British McLaren driver finished first at Spa this month but was docked 25 seconds and dropped to third place for cutting a chicane during a duel with Finnish rival Kimi Raikkonen in the closing laps. The victory was awarded to Massa.

Hamilton argued his case Monday before a three-judge panel on the International Court of Appeal, hoping to increase his lead to seven points, but FIA maintained that the stewards made the correct decision at the time.

"Article 152 of the International Sporting Code states that drive-through penalties are 'not susceptible to appeal,'" FIA saidin a statement.

At the race in Spa, Hamilton was dueling with Ferrari's Kimi Raikonnen in the closing stages of the Belgian GP and cut across the Bus Stop chicane to overtake the Finnish driver.

Hamilton immediately allowed Raikonnen to reclaim the lead before overtaking him at the next corner for the eventual win. The three appointed judges had to decide if Hamilton sufficiently surrendered the advantage he had gained when cutting the chicane.

The Briton has 76 points, just one point ahead of Massa, with Poland's Robert Kubica, of BMW Sauber, on third with 58.

The next race is in Singapore this Sunday.

(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2008)