Appeal to have race bearing

PARIS: An appeal hearing next week in Paris could have a vital bearing on the outcome of this year's World Formula 1 Championship.

The Williams team has appealed title leader Jacques Villeneuve's exclusion from last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, in which the Canadian scored two points.

The decision will determine if Villeneuve goes into next week's title decider in Spain with a one-point lead over Ferrari star Michael Schumacher or a one-point deficit.

Though it will still effectively come down to a winner-takes- all situation, the appeal result could affect the tactics adopted by the two drivers in Spain.