Mercedes GP have decided not to go ahead with their appeal against Michael Schumacher’s 20 second penalty in the Monaco GP after he overtook Fernando Alonso under safety car conditions.
A statement from the team recognises that rule 40.13 states that cars cannot overtake if the race ends under the SC. However, the team thought the combination of the ‘safety car in this lap’ message and the green flags meant the race wasn’t in fact ending under SC conditions.
“On the final lap of the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix, Mercedes GP instructed our drivers, Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, to race from safety car line one until the finish line as permitted under articles 40.7 and 40.11,” the statement says.
“Mercedes GP were fully aware of article 40.13 which states that no overtaking is permitted if the race finishes under safety car conditions. However we believed that the combination of the race control messages ‘Safety Car in this lap’ and ‘Track Clear’ and the green flags and lights shown by the marshals after safety car line one indicated that the race was not finishing under the safety car and all drivers were free to race.
“This opinion appears to have been shared by the majority of the teams with cars in the top ten positions who also gave their drivers instructions to race to the finish line.”
Mercedes GP decided the appeal wouldn’t go ahead in the interests of the sport and as the FIA have decided to discuss rule 40.13 at the next Sporting Working Group as it created some confusion among other teams too.
“It was clear from our discussions with the stewards after the race that they understood the reasons for our interpretation and acknowledged that this was a new and previously untested situation but ultimately disagreed with our interpretation.
“Mercedes GP 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.
“The FIA has agreed to include article 40.13 on the agenda of the next Sporting Working Group for discussion and to consider the scale of post race penalties. We believe that the 20 second penalty imposed on Michael to be disproportionate in the circumstances.
“Whilst we cannot be happy with the outcome, we are pleased that the FIA has recognised the reasons for our interpretation. Therefore in the best interests of the sport, Mercedes GP will not be submitting an appeal.”
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