Motorsport News International
F1: FIA decision on Williams protest
SPEEDNET@aol.com (Robert Heathcote)
America Online
Wed Aug 30 09:24:02 EDT 1995
FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
25-26-27 AUGUST 1995
R.F.P - Route du Circuit 55 - 4970 Francorchamps
Tel 087/27 51 46 - Fax 087/27 55 51
Francorchamps, August 27th, 1995
STEWARDS DECISION NR 5
----------------------
From: The Stewards of the Meeting
To: The Team Benetton Formula Ltd., and driver Michael Schumacher
The Team Williams Grand Prix Engineering Ltd.
cc: The Race Director
The Secretary of the Meeting
The FIA Press Delegate
The Clerk of the Course
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A protest was received at 16h30 from Competitor Williams Grand Prix
Engineering Ltd., which dealt specifically on the behaviour of driver
Mr. M. Schumacher of car No. 1 regarding infractions on the rule detailed
in appendix L - Chapter 4 titled "Code of driving conduct on circuits".
The Competitor representative Mr. R. Standford started, when lodging the
protest that their prayer did not include a protest against
reclassification of the results. The official result was declared final
at 17h55 on receipt of the Technical Scrutineering report.
The Stewards requested the Race Director as to whether it was possible
to have more elements concerning the protest and the Race Director
submitted new videos taken entirely from the helicopter.
As the Stewards considered the new video images to be a new element, the
procedure covered by Article 179b of the Sporting Code was followed,
even if the protest lodged by Williams Grand Prix Engineering Ltd., could
have been considered out of time.
The Race Director was heard on the protest and he declared that he had
nothing to report.
The Stewards called in the driver of car No. 5, Mr. Damon Hill and made
him comment on the videos shown to him namely the video shot from the
helicopter and the video used in the broadcast of the Grand Prix.
Mr. D. Hill gave his comments on an ongoing basis specifying the various
areas where overtaking attempts were made and subsequently hindered. He
specifically mentioned one maneuver where the cars touched one another.
The driver Mr. M. Schumacher was then called in with the Competitor
representative Mr. Villadelprat and shown the same videos.
Mr. M. Schumacher stated that he was following his racing line as the
track was wet and only that racing line was sufficiently dry. On being
questioned as to whether he maintained this line without the proximity
of car No. 5, Mr. M. Schumacher replied in affirmative. Mr. M.
Schumacher also confirmed that the two cars had touched during one
maneuver.
It is to be specifically accepted that car No. 5 was driven on wet
tires and car No. 1 was was driven on slick tires under wet conditions.
The Stewards then looked at the racing line normally taken by Mr. M.
Schumacher on different laps when racing alone and concluded that this
line was not maintained when car No. 5 was trying to overtake, on more
than one occasion.
The Stewards concluded that Mr. M. Schumacher was guilty of an
infringement of appendix L - Chapter 4, Article 1.a and 1.c with
greater emphasis on "Maneuvers liable to hinder other drivers such as
premature direction changes..." or "any other abnormal change of
direction..." and repetition of the offense.
The Stewards then decided after examining the infringement to pass
sentence of suspension from one FIA Formula One Grand Prix. This
sentence is suspended for the next 4 (four) FIA Formula One Grand Prix on
the condition that no similar infringement of appendix L of the FIA
Sporting Code will occur.
Protest fees are returned to Williams Grand Prix Engineering Ltd.
Signed by the Stewards of the Meeting:
N. Hoosein (chairman)
Ch. de Fierlant
S. Mehta
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