FIA statement on Webber/Bruni penalties

A report was received from the Race Director which stated that in the second timed session whilst car no. 12 was being recovered between turns 9 and 10, car no. 14, Mark Webber, set its fastest sector time of the session in the sector in which yellow flags were being displayed.

After hearing the driver and the Competitors representative the Stewards viewed the video evidence. It is clear that car no. 12 Felipe Massa stopped after Marshal post 32 which immediately waved double yellow flags. Marshal Post no. 31 waved a single yellow at the same time. Marshal Post no. 29 also waved a single yellow which according to a statement made in the drivers briefing was not visible to all the drivers.

According to the driver Mark Webber the distance between Marshal Post no. 31 and the incident is too short to be of relevance. Moreover the sector is a long one and this further reduces the significance of the time lost due to the reduction of speed. The distance is estimated to be approximately 200 metres and Article 4.1.2 b) of Appendix H is quite clear on the use of yellow flags.

The Stewards consider the 2004 FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations and Appendices L Chapter IV Article I and H, Chapter 2 Article 4.12 (b) of the International Sporting Code to be breached and impose a time penalty of one second to be added to the driver’s lap time in the qualifying session. Therefore the lap time of 1:30.797 - set by car no. 14, Mark Webber, in the qualifying session - becomes 1:31.797.

The Stewards, having received a report from the Race Director, made the following decision: It was deemed that Car no. 20, Gianmaria Bruni, exited the pit lane when the pit exit lights were red.

This is a breach of Article 158 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations and the Stewards of the Meeting have decided that the qualifying time of Car no. 20, Gianmaria Bruni, be deleted.

-fia-