Ferrari set to drop appeal, but could seek review of penalty, Latest Others News - The New Paper
Sports

Ferrari set to drop appeal, but could seek review of penalty

Ferrari will not formally appeal the penalty that cost Sebastian Vettel victory in the Canadian Grand Prix, sources said yesterday, but could still seek a review of the decision by presenting fresh evidence.

The deadline for the Formula One team to lodge a formal protest is this morning (Singapore time), 96 hours after the end of the race in Montreal.

A Ferrari spokesman said they were still collecting evidence and could not confirm what action was being taken.

A source at the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) told Reuters the team would not be making a formal appeal.

The Daily Mail newspaper earlier reported that Ferrari principal Mattia Binotto had written to the FIA to say the team would not protest the five-second penalty applied to Vettel's time after the race.

The team had given notice of their intention to appeal on Sunday, with Vettel leading from start to finish but losing out to Mercedes' championship leader Lewis Hamilton after the chequered flag.

"They are stealing the race from us," Vettel, a four-time world champion, had said over the radio when told he was under investigation for going off track and returning in what was deemed to be a dangerous fashion, forcing Hamilton to take evasive action.

The stewards' decision triggered a controversy with some defending the penalty, while others felt the officials had been over-zealous in applying the rules.

The sporting regulations do not allow for in-race penalties to be appealed, but Ferrari could still seek a review of the stewards' actions under article 14.1.1 of the FIA's International Sporting Code.

This allows for further action in the event of any "significant and relevant new element" coming to light. They have 14 days since the final race to produce fresh evidence. - REUTERS

MOTORSPORTS