McLaren appeal hearing moved to London

PARIS: The appeal hearing launched by Formula One team McLaren-Mercedes against Williams and BMW Sauber has been moved to London from Paris because of strikes planned in the French capital in the coming days, the sport's governing body, the FIA, confirmed on Tuesday.   

The meeting will take place as scheduled on Thursday morning, but in the British capital.   

McLaren are appealing against the BMW Sauber and Williams teams for their use of allegedly irregular fuel during last month's Brazilian Grand Prix, the final race of the season where Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen clinched the drivers' title.   

McLaren are seeking the disqualification of Nico Rosberg of the Williams-Toyota team and Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld of the BMW Sauber team who came fourth, fifth and six respectively.    

If they were to be disqualified it would mean that McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who finished seventh, would be awarded the world title at the expense of Raikkonen.   

France's rail networks are set for major disruptions as a series of strikes and protests begin Tuesday evening against President Nicolas Sarkozy's economic reform agenda.