• Monaco Grand Prix

Mercedes appeals Schumacher penalty

Before the storm ... Michael Schumacher waves to the crowd followed by team-mate Nico Rosberg at the finish © Sutton Images

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• News:
• Mercedes ponders Schumacher appeal
  
• News:
• Schumacher demoted to 12th after safety-car penalty
  

• Race:
• Monaco Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Michael Schumacher

• Teams:
• Mercedes

• External Links:
• Editor's Comment - A harsh but technically fair punishment

Mercedes will appeal the stewards' decision to penalise Michael Schumacher for overtaking Fernando Alonso at the final corner of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Schumacher was dropped from sixth to 12th after his move was deemed to have breached rule 40.13 and he was issued with a post-race drive-through penalty that translated to a 20-second addition to his finishing time.

Mercedes has appealed the decision as it believes the safety car period had ended and normal racing resumed.

"My race would have been pretty normal without the decision of the stewards afterwards," Schumacher said. "The result in the very end, which put me back to 12th place for now, was obviously disappointing for me and I can fully understand that we are appealing the decision. Our understanding was that the 'safety car in, track clear' message meant we were back to racing conditions, so I went for it and overtook Fernando."

"With regard to the penalty given to Michael, 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," said team principal Ross Brawn. "The reason for the safety car had been removed, the FIA had announced 'Safety Car in this lap' early on lap 78 and the track had been declared clear by race control.

"This was further endorsed when 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 in Melbourne 2009. On the last lap, we therefore advised our drivers that they should race to the line and Michael made his move on Fernando for sixth place. We have appealed the decision of the stewards."

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