Lewis Hamilton has been denied the slim chance he had of winning the Formula One world title after the FIA ruled admissable McLaren's appeal on a technicality against three drivers at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, therefore, is tonight finally confirmed as the 2007 world champion.

McLaren had contested the decision of the stewards not to punish the Sauber and Williams teams at Interlagos, having found both to have used fuel that was cooler than the temperatures permitted under the regulations.

Drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Hedfield, of BMW Sauber, and Williams's Nico Rosberg finished fourth, sixth and fifth respectively before being being found to have run the race on cool fuel.

Hamilton, who finished only a point behind Raikkonen in the world championship standings, could only finish seventh in Brazil after a gearbox problem, but his Woking-based team had hoped that if the three drivers were disqualified, that might elevate their driver up to fourth, giving him enough points to be crowned world champion.

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren’s F1 CEO, said: “In the interests of rule clarification and rule consistency we lodged our appeal. We have not yet seen the text of the FIA International Court of Appeal decision, and hope that clarification is provided.

“It’s important to stress that the FIA stewards’ inquiry at the Brazilian Grand Prix was not triggered by any action from McLaren, but by a report written and made public by the FIA technical delegate.

“That drew the FIA stewards’ attention to what we regarded as a clear regulation breach on the part of BMW Sauber and Williams. Our appeal was merely a logical and procedural step in the process begun by the FIA technical delegate’s written report.

“We hope this fuel temperature issue does not remain unresolved in Formula One next year. But we look forward to working with the FIA and the teams on clarifying matters to avoid a similar situation occurring again.”

Hamilton is unlikely to feel disappointed by the verdict as he had said he did not want to win the title in such circumstances. “It would feel weird after Kimi did such a fantastic job in the last two races,” he had said previously. “He won and to have that taken away would be cruel. It wouldn’t be good for the sport.

"I am sure the team are doing the appeal for good reasons but, as a team, we want to win it on the track. As a driver, it is over and done with - the championship is settled.”

Fernando Alonso, Hamilton's team-mate, will also be satisfied with the decision, having criticised McLaren for even pursing the case. “Raikkonen is the deserved champion," the Spaniard said. "If you have more points, you are the deserved champion just like in football. He [Raikkonen] has won six races and Hamilton, like me, has won four.”