Belgian GP adds to Hamilton's list of setbacks

By Alan Baldwin

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) - McLaren's Lewis Hamilton denied on Sunday that he had gained any advantage from a Belgian Grand Prix incident that cost him victory and four precious points.

Speaking before stewards stripped the Formula One championship leader of his fifth win of the season and demoted him to third place with a retrospective drive-through penalty, 23-year-old was adamant he had done nothing wrong.

"This is motor racing and if there is a penalty, then there's something wrong," he said after he cut a chicane in the heat of battle with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

"I was ahead going into that corner, so I didn't gain an advantage from it. We were still able to race at the next corner and I gave him his spot back and I think it was fair and square," he added.

"But you know what they (the stewards) are like, so we will see."

The punishment left Hamilton just two points clear of Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa, declared the race winner, with five rounds remaining.

Hamilton could speak from experience, having been punished four times already by the stewards in 12 previous races this season.

In Malaysia in March, both he and Finnish team mate Heikki Kovalainen were demoted five places on the starting grid for impeding rivals after slowing to save fuel on completing their final qualifying laps.  Continued...