FIA decision on Williams protest

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

SpeedNet HQ: AUTOSPORTS BBS, 310-641-9627