FIA to appeal Button decision

The FIA has announced it will appeal the decision of the race stewards at Imola to take no action in regard to Jenson Button's BAR having a weight discrepancy at the end of the race. Button finished third in the San Marino Grand Prix and during post-race scrutineering his car apparently complied with the minimum weight limit.

Jenson Button.

Photo by xpb.cc.

However, over the following six hours the stewards decided that the BAR be drained of fuel and weighed again. Then it was under the weight limit. After hearing a currently unknown explanation from the team, the stewards decided no further action was needed.

However, the FIA is evidently not happy with the situation and has challenged the decision. The International Court of Appeal is provisionally scheduled to hear the case in Paris on May 4th.

The minimum weight limit is 600kg, including the driver. The rumour mill suggests that BAR was using a 'secret' fuel tank, among other bizarre theories, but for the moment the weight discrepancy remains a mystery.

If the FIA wins the appeal Button will lose his third place, which will promote McLaren's Alex Wurz to the position and Williams' Mark Webber to eighth. However, there is another appeal ongoing that could re-shuffle those in the points.

Toyota's Ralf Schumacher was given a time penalty after the race in regard to an incident with the Williams of Nick Heidfeld, which dropped Ralf from eighth to 11th in the results. Heidfeld subsequently moved up to the one point position but Toyota is contesting the decision so it may change again.