Kimi Raikkonen (above, during the Belgian Grand Prix) has been finally confirmed as the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion after the FIA Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal lodged by the McLaren team in the aftermath of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Kimi Raikkonen has been finally confirmed as the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion after the FIA Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal lodged by the McLaren team in the aftermath of the Brazilian Grand Prix. The appeal focused around the temperatures of the fuel used by the BMW and Williams F1 cars at Interlagos, and their exclusion could have moved Lewis Hamilton up the points order to bypass Raikkonen's points total.

The FIA released the following statement late yesterday: The FIA International Court of Appeal met in London on Thursday, November 15, 2007, to examine an appeal lodged by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) on behalf of its licence-holder Vodafone McLaren Mercedes against the decision (document 41) of the Panel of the Stewards of the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix dated 21 October 2007 and counting towards the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Following a report from the Technical Delegate indicating that the temperature of fuel pumped into the cars N°9 - Nick Heidfeld, N°10 - Robert Kubica, N°16 - Nico Rosberg and N°17 - Kazuki Nakajima, was more than 10 degrees centigrade below ambient temperature, the Stewards of the Meeting met to consider whether a penalty should be imposed.  Having heard the evidence they decided not to impose a penalty as they had sufficient doubt as to both the temperature of the fuel on board the car and to the true ambient temperature.

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. The International Court of Appeal was presided over by Mr Jan Stovicek (Czech Republic), elected President, and composed of Mr John Cassidy (United States), Mr Vassilis Koussis (Greece) and Mr José Macedo e Cunha (Portugal).

Ferrari also released a statement in Maranello shortly after the FIA Court of Appeal had delivered its vertict: Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro is completely satisfied with today's decision of the International Court of Appeal which confirms the result of the Brazilian Grand Prix - the statement read - as a consequence of which Kimi Raikkonen won the Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship. "The decision of the ICA finally brings to an end a very intense season, both on and off the track," declared Jean Todt, Ferrari CEO. "Today, a final and desperate attempt to change the result obtained on the track was rejected. Now, all our efforts are focused on preparing for next season."