Teams lobbied to prevent Arrows’ fine

To be forgiven?
By Huw Alban
August 21 2002

Craig Pollock is working very hard to secure the future of the Arrows team, scoring important brownie points in Hungary by lobbying rival team bosses not to punish the team for not competing on Sunday. This indicates that there may not be a penalty from the FIA.

Prior to and during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, there had been numerous reports that the team faced a stiff fine from the FIA for not being there, and a possible compensation claim from the race organisers. Whilst there is still no word on the likelihood of such a claim, ITV-F1 reports that the FIA are only likely to issue a warning to the team, instead of a penalty.

ITV reports that Pollock visited each of the teams present at the race weekend, and successfully gained the support of all their bosses in order to prevent an FIA fine. It is thought that if there is no will amongst the grid in impose a punishment then the FIA will leave the matter be.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis has added his support to the team surviving in the sport. “There are automatic mechanisms for the rights to fall away if the team is in liquidation, so the important thing is for Arrows to maintain it’s value. But there is the power within the FIA and the teams to waive those,” he was quoted as saying in Motorsport News.

“I think, in this instance, most teams would be supportive of anything that would keep another grand prix team involved.”

All eyes will now be on the team’s movements during the week running up to the Belgian Grand Prix. It is thought that if Arrows do not compete there, then they will lose all their rights in the sport. Only time will tell on that one.