Sir Stirling Moss hopes Lewis Hamilton would turn down the drivers' title even if McLaren's ongoing appeal surrounding yesterday's Brazilian Grand Prix is successful.

Hamilton missed out on the drivers' championship when Kimi Raikkonen's victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix allowed him to leapfrog the British driver and Spaniard Fernando Alonso in the standings.

However, Hamilton's team have pledged to appeal after stewards chose to impose no penalty following an investigation as BMW Sauber and Williams were found to be in breach of technical regulations regarding fuel temperatures.

And Formula One legend Moss told talkSPORT: "I would like to hope that I would have whatever it takes to say 'no thank you, it's tainted'.

"I would like to think that both he (Hamilton) and I would have the strength to say 'no, take the damn thing away.

I don't want it.'

"It's unfortunate.

I think he is probably the greatest driver out there today. Kimi [Raikkonen] is terrific as well. But he's not as consistent. He's fast. But Lewis has done such an amazing job this year.

"He's made a couple of mistakes that he has paid very dearly for.Here he was as a rookie and he was just about to take it on the last two events.But he managed to drop the ball and I think it's a shame really.

"I don't think it matters that much as I think he'll get it next year and a few years after as well."