The outcome of Red Bull’s appeal against Daniel Ricciardo’s disqualification from second place at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix last month is expected to be delivered tonight (local time).
After a gruelling day-long hearing before the FIA’s Court of Appeal in Paris, Red Bull were challenged as to why it should not be handed a stiffer penalty over the fuel regulator breach.
Mercedes lawyer Paul Harris called Red Bull’s actions in Melbourne a ‘flagrant and deliberate disregard for the rules’.
Harris cited that Red Bull’s situation was more serious than the banning of the BAR team in 2005 for three races over a fuel tank breach.
“We are, frankly, and with great respect, concerned that Red Bull have shown such a flagrant and deliberate disregard for these rules that there is a real risk they will do it again,” said Harris as the hearing stretched to six hours.
“We are here to seek to ensure that that does not happen, we must have a level playing field going forward for the remainder of the season.
“We apprehend that the other teams represented here today [Lotus, Williams, McLaren and Force India] take the same view, which is why they are here today.”
During the hearing FIA lawyer Sebastien Bernhard said: “All teams have held on the issue of flow rate on the instructions of the FIA. Why does Red Bull takes out the right another way to go?
“If they take out the right not to follow the instructions of the referee, they must already provide very good evidence that the sensor has not been working properly.
“Their alleged evidence has convinced no-one.”