Mercedes GP PETRONAS team plan on appealing the decision to give Michael Schumacher a 20 second penalty for the overtaking incident at the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo. It was unclear late in the race whether the safety car was still being used, thus causing much controversy at the end of the race with Schumacher being penalized.
Formula One rules state that if the race ends under a safety car, the vehicle will enter the pit lane at the end of the last lap and no overtaking is allowed. Mercedes GP PETRONAS felt that the instructions they were given suggested the race would not be finishing under the safety car and as a result Michael Schumacher overtook a rival coming into Anthony Noghes putting him across the finish line in sixth spot.
Race stewards however, felt that the seven-time World Champion breached safety rules, adding on the time penalty resulted in 12 place finish, landing him outside of the points.
Team Principal Ross Brawn said: “We believed that the track had gone green and the race was not finishing under a safety car when article 40.13 clearly would have applied. The marshals showed green flags and lights after safety car line one. On previous occasions when it has been necessary to complete a race under a safety car, full course yellows are maintained.”
As things stand now, Schumacher sits ninth in the drivers’ championship standings on 22 points.
