Kimi Raikkonen has been confirmed as the 2007 Formula 1 world champion after Brazilian Grand Prix stewards upheld the original race result.

After lengthy deliberations at Interlagos on Sunday evening, the stewards decided not to penalise Williams and BMW Sauber for alleged technical irregularities.

FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer said fuel samples taken from the two teams’ cars during their pit stops in Sunday’s race revealed temperatures outside the permitted range.

But in a statement issued more than six hours after the end of the race, the stewards said there was sufficient doubt about the fuel temperatures “as to render it inappropriate to impose a penalty”.