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Sport's ringmaster says he will retire should British rookie be handed the crown on appeal.

Bernie Ecclestone has threatened to walk away from F1should McLaren-Mercedes' appeal against the decision not to disqualify the BMW-Sauber and Williams' cars from last month's Brazilian Grand Prixprove successful.

The four cars in question were all investigated in the wake of the season finale, and discovered to have been running illegally cool fuel during the race. The stewards in Interlagos, however, resolved not to throw them out of the results – a move that would have handed Lewis Hamiltonthe crown, and one which the Briton's McLarenteam has elected to challenge.

The matter has consequently been passed on to the FIACourt of Appeal, which will now meet in London at 10am on Thursday – having been moved from its original venue of Paris – where the destination of this year's Formula 1World Drivers' Championship will finally be confirmed.