Williams welcomes ICA findings

Williams F1 today welcomed the findings of the FIA’s International Court of Appeal (ICA), investigating the matter of the fuel temperatures recorded at the Brazilian Grand Prix earlier this year. The outcome of the hearing means that the Steward’s decision in Brazil in relation to this matter remains in force and valid. The AT&T Williams team did not transgress the regulations, demonstrate any intent or gain any competitive advantage in relation to the management of its race fuels.

In order to respect the Court of Appeal process, Williams has refrained from making any public statement until a conclusion had been reached. The team can now confirm that the facts of this case are as follows:-

1. Article 6.5.4 of the FIA Technical Regulations states that no fuel onboard the car may be more than 100C below ambient temperature.

2. There is no specified source for the ambient temperature measurement, and there is no homologated and sealed sensor for measuring fuel temperature either in the fuel rigs or on-board the cars.

3. Meteo France, who provide official temperature measurements for the FIA and Formula One teams, recorded a maximum ambient temperature during the Brazilian GP of 330C.

4. The lowest temperatures recorded by Williams’ precise on-board sensors in the fuel tank and in the fuel injection rail on either of its cars during the Grand Prix were 310C and 350C respectively.

5. Consequently, as the Stewards found, there was no breach of the regulations.

6. All of the preceding points are consistent with all of the clarifications and opinions related to fuel temperatures expressed in Team Managers’ Meetings and other such forums. The views offered in these meetings fully support Williams’ case as presented to the FIA ICA.

These facts lay behind the Steward’s decision in Brazil. Williams was pleased to be able to present these facts to the ICA and see the Steward’s decision upheld, confirming that both Williams race cars were legal throughout the course of the Brazilian Grand Prix. In the event, the appeal of the Steward’s decision was found to be inadmissible as McLaren failed to follow the correct and clearly documented protest procedure.

In an interview with ITV Williams technical director Sam Michael said that the evidence presented at Thursday’s hearing clearly exonerated the AT&T Williams team.

Michael said: “The verdict itself clears us. What's important to know as well is that inside the ICA hearing on Thursday, all of the technical arguments were put forward and during that process every affected party was allowed to put forward first their case on admissibility of the appeal, but also their technical case on the regulations themselves.

“It was very clear during the process of putting forward the engineering side that the stewards’ decision was most likely to be upheld.

“Obviously that is not reflected in the statement from the ICA because they would not allow the appeal. So that's not really out there, but in reality that is what happened.”