Ferrari's Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen was confirmed by the FIA, Formula 1 ruling body, as being the world champion after turning down an appeal made by McLaren-Mercedes against the outcome of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

FIA's International Court of Appeal also decided not the disqualify BMW- Sauber and Williams cars for supposed fuel temperature irregularities due to insufficient evidence, thus upholding the ruling of the race stewards at the Brazilian GP.

"Having heard the evidence they (the race stewards) decided not to impose a penalty as they had sufficient doubt as to both the temperature of the fuel on board the car and to the true ambient temperature," said FIA in a statement.

"Having heard the explanations of both parties and having examined the various documents and other evidence, the Court decided that the appeal lodged by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is inadmissible."

Raikkonen managed to win the world title for Ferrari in the final race in Sao Paulo on October 21 despite the fact that the strong favorites were McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. The Finn snatched the title from Hamilton by one point.

Although Hamilton had difficulties driving his car in the last race of the season and finished seventh, if FIA had disqualified the two BMWs of Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg's Williams which finished ahead of the Englishman, then he would have earned just enough points to become champion.

Mclaren officials said that their appeal is first of all a matter of principle and it’s also in the best interest of other F1 teams as well to order to have clear rules for 2008.

However, McLaren finished this season without winning any titles, moreover, the British-German team was fined 100 million dollars and stripped of all its constructors' points in September after it was discovered spying from Ferrari.