LEWIS Hamilton faces an anxious wait to discover whether he will be handed the Formula One world championship after the FIA confirmed receiving a formal appeal from McLaren against the outcome of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Motor sport's governing body are expected to hear the case next month, in which McLaren will claim race stewards were wrong not to penalise rival teams BMW and Williams for fuel irregularities at Interlagos on Sunday.

If last night's appeal is successful, those teams could be disqualified from the race, which could also mean Hamilton being elevated from seventh to fourth position.

If he is also awarded the points for a fourth-placed finish, the 22-year-old Briton would replace Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen as drivers' champion.

However, such an outcome is by no means certain, even if the FIA decide to overturn the stewards' decision.