McLaren's Fuel Appeal Fails

By Sam Cooper
November 16 2007

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One team's fuel appeal has failed, after a lengthy court hearing in London. The race stewards decided not to punish the BMW drivers of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica and the Williams's of Kazuki Nakajima and Nico Rosberg, as there is sufficeint evidence to put into question the fuel and ambient temperatures on the day.

The world motorsports councils discision leaves Ferrari driver Kimi Riakkonen as the 2007 world champion. Rookie sensation Lewis Hamilton will not win the drivers championship at his first attempt.

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team appealed the descision made by the stewards after the Brazilian Grand Prix, concerning the fuel temperatures of the two BMW Sauber and Williams Toyota's cars.

The press release from the FIA on todays findings.

The FIA International Court of Appeal met in London on Thursday, November 15, 2007, to examine an appeal lodged by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) on behalf of its licence-holder Vodafone McLaren Mercedes against the decision (document 41) of the Panel of the Stewards of the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix dated 21 October 2007 and counting towards the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Following a report from the Technical Delegate indicating that the temperature of fuel pumped into the cars N°9 - Nick Heidfeld, N°10 - Robert Kubica, N°16 - Nico Rosberg and N°17 - Kazuki Nakajima, was more than 10 degrees centigrade below ambient temperature, the Stewards of the Meeting met to consider whether a penalty should be imposed.

Having heard the evidence they decided not to impose a penalty as they had sufficient doubt as to both the temperature of the fuel on board the car and to the true ambient temperature.

Having heard the explanations of both parties and having examined the various documents and other evidence, the Court decided that the appeal lodged by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is inadmissible.