Because even Nico Hulkenberg has shortened a chicane was not punished for it, sets a Force India Adrian Sutil for protest
As expected, Force India Adrian Sutil, with respect to subsequent time penalty at the Grand Prix of Singapore officially announced to want to protest. The German had been full in the first round a chicane and was therefore punished with a retrospective time penalty of 20 seconds, threw it back from eighth to tenth place.

But because the racing line 60 laps had time to investigate the incident and to express even a penalty during the race, the Sutil could react strategically, Force India will not justify the verdict. It is doubtful whether any actual protest is successful.
Force India also calls for an investigation of an incident by Nico Hulkenberg. The Williams driver will have during the race, also abbreviated as a chicane, but conceded it no penalty. Sutil and his team feel this inconstancy unfair.

When a final decision will be made in the Cause is not yet certain.

Whilst many commentators and fans are angry at the outcome of Wednesday’s disciplinary hearing, others say the time is right to axe the ban on team orders.

The Telegraph observed that if the sport’s governing body is reluctant to harshly punish a “blatant” rules breach like Ferrari’s at Hockenheim, then “the rule really does need reviewing”.

“By removing it, at least the hypocrisy of teams who practise it yet preach something else entirely would be removed,” added the broadsheet.

The Guardian agrees that “most teams” pay only “lip service” to the ban that is “largely unworkable”.

It is rumoured that the FIA considered imposing a 5 second time penalty to winner Fernando Alonso, which would have installed the subordinate Felipe Massa as the official winner.

But the Council decided against it, meaning this verdict “is a precedent that will likely allow team orders to be continued to be used in the sport”, a New York Times blogger wrote.

Brazilian columnist Livio Oricchio said the next step should be the axing of the ban, so “there is less theatre and more truth in formula one”.

Germany’s Bild agreed: “Either team orders are punished brutally, or they are officially allowed once again.”

Said F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone: “The rules need to be looked at again.

“If you swapped your drivers around with a few laps left, that is bringing the sport into disrepute.  But if you do it earlier, I don’t have a problem with team orders.”

Enrico Gelpi, president of the Italian sanctioning body ACI and a FIA member, said: “The rule will be reviewed.

“For us it would be a good idea to remove it completely.  The general attitude in the FIA towards this change is favourable.”

He said the topic would be discussed at the next World Motor Sport Council meeting in November.

Mercedes has decided not to appeal the Monaco stewards’ decision to penalise Michael Schumacher.

As per FIA rules, the German team lodged notification of its intention to appeal within an hour of the publication of the decision.

The actual appeal application then had to be filed within 48 hours.

In a media statement issued on Tuesday, the Brackley based team said it “cannot be happy with the outcome” but has decided not to appeal “in the best interests of the sport”.

Mercedes explained that the governing body recognises “the reasons” for informing Schumacher and Nico Rosberg to race in the final corner of the race, adding that many teams have the same opinion.

The team said its interpretation of the rule will be discussed at the next meeting of the Sporting Working Group, with the FIA also agreeing to listen to Mercedes’ view that the 20-second time penalty was “disproportionate”.

Mercedes also seemed to comment on reports that Damon Hill, Schumacher’s former title nemesis, now feels “uncomfortable” with the concept of former drivers having full voting powers as stewards.

1996 world champion Hill revealed earlier on Tuesday that he had received “hate mail” from those who believe he acted with prejudice.

“Mercedes would like to emphasise that we fully support the inclusion of past drivers on the stewards panel and are completely satisfied that the Monaco grand prix stewards acted professionally, impartially and properly in this matter,” read the statement.

(GMM)

Damon Hill is no longer sure former drivers should be acting as full FIA stewards at grands prix.

The 1996 world champion said he has been receiving “hate mail” ever since he and the three regular stewards signed off on a 20-second time penalty in the wake of Michael Schumacher’s late pass on Fernando Alonso at Monaco.

In 2010, a new initiative by new FIA president Jean Todt has seen former drivers including Alain Prost, Alex Wurz, Derek Warwick and Johnny Herbert act as stewards.

Hill’s duties were at Monaco, where he admitted his former title nemesis Schumacher had a “wry smile” when he walked into the stewards room in the wake of the Monaco incident.

The 49-year-old told British newspapers he has been receiving “stinging emails” accusing him of prejudice ever since.

“I was uncomfortable being put in that position of being a full FIA representative.  My expertise is as a driver rather than a lawmaker or interpreter of regulations,” said Hill.

“Partly my discomfort was because I was called on to make a ruling on an incident involving Michael.

“I know most people will believe me when I say I acted entirely properly and correctly, but perhaps it might be more appropriate for drivers to act as consultants to the stewards rather than as stewards,” he added.

Schumacher said he believes Hill would have acted appropriately.

“I know Damon.  He is a good guy,” said the German.

(GM)

F1′s media and pundits are divided over Michael Schumacher’s late overtaking move on Fernando Alonso in Monaco.

The stewards, including Schumacher’s former title nemesis Damon Hill, penalised the seven time world champion for illegally passing the Spaniard during a safety car period.

But the safety car had actually pulled into the pits, prompting the message ‘track clear’ on the official monitors, and video evidence showed green flags and green lights.

Former driver Marc Surer told the German news agency SID: “I think the stewards have made a mistake, because they had shown green (flags).”

He insists there was at the very least no “clear” breach of the rules, given that the stewards took more than three hours to decide to impose the 20-second time penalty.

The Italian press was less sympathetic.

“Is he not 41 years old?” read an editorial in the Tuttosport newspaper.  “He should know the rules by now.”

Epsilon Euskadi boss Joan Villadelprat wrote in his El Pais column that Schumacher’s was a “monumental error”, but former German F1 driver Christian Danner said the mistake was the FIA’s for ordering that green flags be waved.

Bild newspaper published a photo proving that Schumacher drove past a green light in the Rascasse corner prior to passing the Ferrari, even though Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali argues that the race ended “under yellow conditions”.

But Alonso insists he was “immediately certain” that the Mercedes driver would be penalised.

“That’s why I let him go,” the Spaniard told spox.com.

“My team had told me that you can’t overtake.  I had wanted to try to pass Lewis Hamilton but they told me I could not.”

And Sebastien Buemi told the Swiss newspaper Blick that Toro Rosso ordered him to hold position.

“I was surprised when the team told me not to attack Liuzzi, because there were green lights flashing everywhere!” he said.

(GMM)

Mercedes has not decided whether to proceed with its appeal against the Monaco stewards’ decision to penalise Michael Schumacher.

With the German team believing Schumacher was free to pass Fernando Alonso on Sunday, it immediately lodged notification of its intention to appeal the decision to demote him out of the points at the FIA’s Court of Appeal.

The penalty itself, a 20-second time penalty in lieu of a drive-through, is not appealable, but the decision is.

Following the notification, Mercedes has 48 hours to formalise the application to appeal.

“No decision has been taken as yet,” a spokeswoman for the Brackley based team said on Monday.

(GMM)

The penalty itself is set in stone, but Mercedes has nonetheless decided to appeal the Monaco stewards’ decision late on Sunday to drop Michael Schumacher out of the points.

The seven time world champion’s 20-second time penalty was actually in lieu of a drive-through penalty, which is not subject to appeal.

But the decision itself, with Mercedes believing Schumacher’s last-lap pass on Fernando Alonso was legal, can be challenged at the FIA’s Court of Appeal.

A hearing date has not been set.

(GMM)