Mercedes to appeal Schumacher penalty decision

UPDATE (GMM) Mercedes has not decided whether to proceed with its appeal against the Monaco stewards' decision to penalize Michael Schumacher.

With the German team believing Schumacher was free to pass Fernando Alonso on Sunday, it immediately lodged notification of its intention to appeal the decision to demote him out of the points at the FIA's Court of Appeal.

The penalty itself, a 20-second time penalty in lieu of a drive-through, is not appealable, but the decision is.

Following the notification, Mercedes has 48 hours to formalize the application to appeal.

"No decision has been taken as yet," a spokeswoman for the Brackley based team said on Monday.

Michael Schumacher

05/16/10 (GMM) The penalty itself is set in stone, but Mercedes has nonetheless decided to appeal the Monaco stewards' decision late on Sunday to drop Michael Schumacher out of the points.

The seven time world champion's 20-second time penalty was actually in lieu of a drive-through penalty, which is not subject to appeal.

But the decision itself, with Mercedes believing Schumacher's last-lap pass on Fernando Alonso was legal, can be challenged at the FIA's Court of Appeal.

A hearing date has not been set.