According to The Independent newspaper, a Stewart spokesman announced that the team had decided to attend the hearing.

Mika Hakinnen was promoted to first after finishing third

"We have taken up the invitation to attend the hearing because the outcome will directly affect us," the spokesman said.

"We feel that if Ferrari are found to have contravened the rules then the disqualification should hold.

"There's obviously a big difference between going into the final round with an advantage of eight points rather than three. It's about prestige and the position in the pits next season."

Stewart's British driver Johnny Herbert was moved up to second place and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello took third after the disqualification on Sunday of Eddie Irvine and Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher.

That left the Ford-owned Stewart team, which will become Jaguar next season with Irvine moving from Ferrari, fourth in the constructors' championship a comfortable eight points ahead of the Williams team.

If the disqualification is overturned on Friday, they will be just three points clear of Williams.