Mercedes not proceeding with Monaco appeal
As per FIA rules, the German team lodged notification of its intention to appeal within an hour of the publication of the decision.
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| Michael Schumacher gets service in Monaco from his Mercedes team |
The actual appeal application then had to be filed within 48 hours.
In a media statement issued on Tuesday, the Brackley based team said it "cannot be happy with the outcome" but has decided not to appeal "in the best interests of the sport".
Mercedes explained that the governing body recognizes "the reasons" for informing Schumacher and Nico Rosberg to race in the final corner of the race, adding that many teams have the same opinion.
The team said its interpretation of the rule will be discussed at the next meeting of the Sporting Working Group, with the FIA also agreeing to listen to Mercedes' view that the 20-second time penalty was "disproportionate".
Mercedes also seemed to comment on reports that Damon Hill, Schumacher's former title nemesis, now feels "uncomfortable" with the concept of former drivers having full voting powers as stewards.
1996 world champion Hill revealed earlier on Tuesday that he had received "hate mail" from those who believe he acted with prejudice.
"Mercedes would like to emphasize 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," read the statement.
05/18/10 On the final lap of the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix, MERCEDES GP PETRONAS 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.
MERCEDES GP PETRONAS 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.
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 PETRONAS would like to emphasize 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 recognized the reasons for our interpretation. Therefore in the best interests of the sport, MERCEDES GP PETRONAS will not be submitting an appeal. Mercedes GP PR