Lewis Hamilton hopes to get his Belgian Grand Prix victory reinstated to extend his Formula One championship lead when he appears before a FIA appeals court on Tuesday (AEST).
The hearing at governing body headquarters in Paris was sparked by McLaren's decision to appeal Hamilton's 25-second time penalty, given when the British driver was adjudged to have gained an advantage by cutting a chicane on his way to victory at Spa this month.
The victory went to Hamilton's main championship rival Felipe Massa of Ferrari and narrowed the championship gap to two points. Hamilton's lead over Massa was down to one after last week's Italian GP.
McLaren bosses were expected to join Hamilton, who flies to Singapore for F1's first ever night race on Wednesday (AEST).
"All we can do is present the facts," said McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh. "We have just got to present the data and, whatever the outcome is, that is the outcome."
Three judges appointed to the International Court of Appeal will decide by Wednesday (AEST) whether or not McLaren's plea is justified.
If Hamilton wins back the points, his championship lead would extend to seven with four races remaining, with Massa losing two of his.
Hamilton was battling with Massa's teammate Kimi Raikkonen in the closing stages at Spa and cut across the Bus Stop chicane to overtake the Finnish driver.
Hamilton allowed Raikkonen to immediately overtake and reclaim the lead before overtaking at the next corner for good.
The judges must decide if Hamilton sufficiently surrendered the advantage he had gained when cutting the chicane.
"Most people who were watching would say Lewis deserved to win that race and not Felipe," Whitmarsh said. "I'm probably slightly partisan on this but I do actually believe that's what most people would imagine."
Massa - along with the majority of F1 drivers - have said that Hamilton definitely benefited from the maneuver.
