Formula 1
Honda hurt by BAR ban
Honda, co-owner of BAR, is upset by the two-race ban imposed on the team after an appeal court ruled that the team did not comply with FIA regulations at Imola. Jenson Button's car was judged to be underweight in post-race scrutineering, and he and ...
Published: May 10, 2005, 4:10 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Honda, co-owner of BAR, is upset by the two-race ban imposed on the team after an appeal court ruled that the team did not comply with FIA regulations at Imola. Jenson Button's car was judged to be underweight in post-race scrutineering, and he and teammate Takuma Sato were stripped of their points and the team banned from competing in Spain and the next event in Monaco.
"We feel the FIA ruling is too severe," said Honda's Tatsuya Iida, according to Reuters. "We gave them proof we didn't break the rules. To be accused of cheating was hurtful."
BAR argued that the FIA knew about its fuel system -- the team was allegedly using a hidden fuel tank -- and denied that it had been running underweight during the Imola race. The race stewards took no action but the FIA appealed the decision. BAR want the regulations to be clarified as there's too much room for misinterpretation.
"FIA knew we had a new device in the gasoline tank. Without it the car won't move. We feel we didn't break any rules and the stewards agreed so it's very sad," said Iida. "We have kept to the rules. The regulations are very ambiguous, there should be a clear definition. We don't understand the punishment."
The ban came at a time when BAR was beginning to raise its game: after failing to get its cars to the finish line in the first three races, BAR was back on form at Imola with Button third and Sato fifth, but subsequently lost those points. The team has to wait until the European GP at the end of May before it can rejoin the action.
BAR initially intended to challenge the penalty imposed after the appeal hearing but said in Spain that after considering its options, there was nothing that could be done to allow the team to race at Barcelona. It also decided not to pursue further action to be permitted to race in Monaco, saying it was not in the team's, or F1's, best interests.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Spanish GP: Michelin race notes
Next article Qualifying is Ferrari's handicap
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Takuma Sato
Ed Carpenter explains why he was so angry with Takuma Sato
IndyCar
IndyCar
110th Running of the Indianapolis 500
Ed Carpenter explains why he was so angry with Takuma Sato
Takuma Sato set for Indy 500 return with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
IndyCar
IndyCar
110th Running of the Indianapolis 500
Takuma Sato set for Indy 500 return with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Honda shares sneak peek of Takuma Sato preparing for Williams FW11 Tokyo Auto Salon run
Formula 1
Formula 1
Barcelona-Catalunya Pre-Season Testing
Honda shares sneak peek of Takuma Sato preparing for Williams FW11 Tokyo Auto Salon run
Latest news
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
WEC
WEC WEC 25 min
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
General
Misc General 1 h
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe