Banned team give up plans of further legal action
The big news in Barcelona this morning is that BAR will not compete
this weekend as they have been unable to find a court to hear their
case for an injunction against the FIA Court of Appeals two-race
ban, issued yesterday.
A statement from BAR said: The central issue is one of
jurisdiction. Jurisdiction in Europe is governed by European-wide
rules, which say that a defendant party has a right to be sued in
the territory in which it is based. Upon receiving the best legal
advice in all relevant jurisdictions, the conclusion is that
nothing can be done to enable the team to race this weekend.
The team went on to say they will not be challenging the FIA in
court, as initially planned, because it would cause a level of
disruption and damage to the sport which would not serve the best
interests of everyone involved. Instead they will be discussing
the ramifications of the Court of Appeal verdict with the other
teams and manufacturers involved in the sport.
Ever since the verdict was announced on Thursday, teams chief
executive Nick Fry has continued to protest their innocence over
charges of running Jenson Buttons car underweight in the San
Marino Grand Prix and using fuel to ballast it. Both Button and
team mate Takuma Sato were also excluded from the Italian results,
moving Mark Webber and Vitantonio Liuzzi into the points.
The FIA International Court of Appeal in its own judgement was
unable to prove that the team acted in bad faith, continued the
teams statement. BAR Honda therefore remains unclear as to the
basis for such a severe penalty. The team vigorously contests any
insinuation that could potentially tarnish its reputation and good
record, something that is of fundamental importance to the whole
organisation and its partners.
Meanwhile, FIA president Max Mosley issued a strong warning to all
of the teams when he said: We are now considering whether to
select one car at random of the points scorers at every race, and
stripping it to the last nut and bolt. That will give a seven to
one chance that if you are cheating and finish in the points, you
will get caught.
Bernie Ecclestone reacted to the news by confirming that although a
field of only 18 cars now fell short of the required 20, there
would be no need for the two races for other teams to consider
running third cars to make up the numbers.
World Championship leader Fernando Alonso condoned the penalty, but
admitted that he sympathised with Button. We are all agreed that
there are specific rules for all the teams, and if you are not
inside them you risk a penalty. The amount of that penalty is not
up to us, but I totally agree with it. But it is difficult not to
feel sorry for Jenson. He did a fantastic race in Imola, was on the
podium and he deserved it the way he drove. You are risking a lot
in the whole race and the quallie laps, and when its not your
fault and you are out, its disappointing. -
Formula1.com