Massa given Spa win after Hamilton penalty

By Alan Baldwin

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton was stripped of a thrilling Belgian Grand Prix victory on Sunday in a decision that slashed the McLaren driver's Formula One lead over Ferrari's Felipe Massa to just two points.

Hours after the jubilant Briton had sprayed the winner's champagne on the podium, stewards ruled he had gained an advantage from cutting a chicane in an all-or-nothing duel with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen three laps from the end.

Hamilton was given a retrospective drive-through penalty, a controversial decision which translated into 25 seconds added to his race time.

That was enough to demote the 23-year-old to third place, with main title rival Massa taking his fifth victory of the season and Germany's Nick Heidfeld promoted to a surprise second for BMW-Sauber.

McLaren announced their intention to appeal, although it was not immediately clear whether it would be allowed under the sport's regulations.

A spokesman for the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said it would be up to the sport's International Court of Appeal to decide at a later date.

With five races remaining, and Ferrari's home Italian Grand Prix at Monza next up, Hamilton has 76 points to Massa's 74 with BMW-Sauber's Polish driver Robert Kubica third on 58.

World champion Raikkonen, who crashed out on the penultimate lap, slipped to fourth on 57 points with his title hopes as dented as his car.