The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix stewards say they are unlikely to rule on Haas’s protest against Force India until tomorrow.
“A substantial amount of written evidence was submitted and each party made extensive verbal representation,” the stewards said in a statement on Friday.“The stewards are deliberating on the matter. It is anticipated that a decision will not be handed down any earlier that just prior to Free Practice 3.”
Force India team principal Otmar Szafnauer said the team had not anticipated the protest.
“We weren’t expecting it really, it was a bit of a surprise,” said Szafnauer in today’s FIA press conference. “In a way it’s good that all the information can now be presented to the stewards and I think in due course they’ll make a very informed decision.”
There has been no formal confirmation about the subject of the hearing. It is believed to concern whether Racing Point, which took over Force India at mid-season, holds the intellectual property to their car’s design, and therefore whether they qualify as a constructor and are eligible for a share of F1’s prize money.
Speaking to Sky, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said he “cannot disclose” anything about the process.
“We had two hearings, the stewards will take their time to think it through and to understand it and make a good decision.”
Don't miss anything new from RaceFans
Follow RaceFans on social media:
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2018 F1 season
- F1 feared “death knell” for Drive to Survive after Ferrari and Mercedes snub
- McLaren staff told us we were “totally crazy” to take Honda engines in 2018 – Tost
- ‘It doesn’t matter if we start last’: How Red Bull’s junior team aided Honda’s leap forward
- Honda’s jet division helped F1 engineers solve power unit problem
- McLaren Racing losses rise after Honda split
pastaman (@)
23rd November 2018, 14:56
Odd, why are racing stewards making this decision? Seems like a job for an army of lawyers?
mrfill
23rd November 2018, 17:07
Because Haas protested to the stewards. The army of lawyers are still on the starting blocks waiting for the flag to drop once a decision is reached.