Ecclestone warns over appeal verdict

But the Formula One supremo has warned that he would consider retiring from the sport if the verdict gave Lewis Hamilton the title.

"I don't think that the Formula One fans would like a championship to be won because the temperature of the fuel, which can't be measured anyway, is possibly 5C out," Ecclestone was quoted as saying the The Times.

"If anybody thinks that's the best thing for Formula One, then I'd have a very serious thought about me retiring."

Hamilton's McLaren team lodged the appeal following a decision by the race stewards in Brazil to not penalise the BMW Sauber and Williams teams after temperature readings from their fuel rigs were under the variation permitted in the rules.

Hamilton finished seventh in the race and lost the title to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen by one point.

The Briton finished behind Williams driver Nico Rosberg and the BMW Sauber pairing of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, and should the three drivers have their results nullified, Hamilton could win enough points to be crowned world champion.

Ecclestone, however, reckons nothing will change.

"I don't think anything's going to happen if it goes through," Ecclestone added. "In my opinion, they don't have to change the results of the race - it's an infringement of the regulations.

"On the same weekend, McLaren used an extra set of tyres, which they shouldn't have used - that was an infringement - so maybe if anything does happen at this Court of Appeal, maybe they'll treat it exactly the same as the tyres."