Esteban Ocon, Force India, Yas Marina, 2018

Decision on Haas’s protest against Force India expected tomorrow

2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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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.”

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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2 comments on “Decision on Haas’s protest against Force India expected tomorrow”

  1. Odd, why are racing stewards making this decision? Seems like a job for an army of lawyers?

    1. 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.

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