Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix: Kimi Raikkonen may have to wait weeks for confirmation of his status as 2007 Formula One world champion after an appeal against the decision of Brazil GP race stewards not to penalise BMW and Williams over fuel irregularities was lodged by McLaren - the team of star rookie Lewis Hamilton.

Raikkonen took a storming victory at Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit on Sunday to claim a title that had looked beyond him in a title fight dominated by Hamilton and his McLaren team-mate, Fernando Alonso.

But long after the race had finished word filtered out that race stewards were investigating fuel irregularities with the car of fourth-placed Williams driver Nico Rosberg and those of BMW-Sauber Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, fifth and sixth respectively.

At issue was the possibility that fuel used in the car had been at the wrong temperature. If fuel is cooled it can be delivered from fuel rigs to the car more quickly and can also give a boost in power.

If the stewards find against the trio, Hamilton could be elevated to fourth place and score enough points to displace Raikkonen from the top of the championship leaderboard.

However, some six hours after the race ended, the stewards issued a statement saying that there was sufficient doubt about the fuel temperatures "as to render it inappropriate to impose a penalty".

The result stood, but not in the eyes of Hamilton's defeated team. Soon after the stewards' verdict a spokesperson for the sport's governing body, the FIA, confirmed McLaren had notified them of its intention to appeal the stewards' decision.

McLaren now have seven days in which to lodge their appeal and if they take the case to the governing body for a final decision, Raikkonen could be left to sweat over his maiden title for weeks.

The intention to appeal was yesterday heavily criticised by McLaren driver Alonso who said "it would sink the sport".

"It wouldn't be fair," he told Spanish radio Cadena SER. "I will hide my head in shame, it would be a lack of respect. It would sink the sport if they won the title this way."

McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh said yesterday the team had felt honour-bound to appeal."We were surprised at and don't really understand the stewards' decision," he said.

Even if McLaren's appeal is successful it would still not guarantee Hamilton the title. Article 168 of the International Sporting Code makes it clear that it is at the stewards' discretion whether or not cars are moved up the order in the event of other cars being excluded.

It states: "The stewards of the meeting shall declare the resulting amendment in the placings and awards, and they shall decide whether the next competitor should be moved up in the classification."

There is precedent also for the drivers of cars with such irregularities to hold onto their race positions.

In 1995, also in Brazil, Benetton and Williams were denied constructors' points for using fuel that was regular but did not conform to samples approved by the governing body. The drivers were allowed to keep their points in that case.

Standings

1 K Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 110pts

2 L Hamilton (Brit) McLaren 109

2 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 109

4 F Massa (Bra) Ferrari 94

5 N Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 61

6 R Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 39

7 H Kovalainen (Fin) Renault 30

8 G Fisichella (Ita) Renault 21

9 N Rosberg (Ger) Williams 20

10 David Coulthard (Brit) Red Bull 14