Although the World Motor Sport Council found BAR, Williams, Renault, Sauber, McLaren and Toyota guilty on two of the five charges brought against them by the FIA, the teams have vowed to appeal the decision, which could result in severe penalties.

Although the World Motor Sport Council found BAR, Williams, Renault, Sauber, McLaren and Toyota guilty on two of the five charges brought against them by the FIA, the teams have vowed to appeal the decision, which could result in severe penalties.


CARtoday.com reported on Wednesday that the Michelin-backed teams were found guilty of failing to ensure they had suitable tyres and wrongfully refusing to start the last week's United States Grand Prix.


In reaction, the teams said out that they reasonably relied on Michelin, an approved FIA tyre supplier, to provide suitable tyres for that race. Michelin acknowledged that it was responsible for the supply of unsuitable tyres for the Indianapolis circuit. "The FIA's decision accepts that there were 'strong mitigating circumstances' for the teams. In truth, those circumstances provided a complete answer to the charge, given that the Teams cannot be held responsible for what occurred," the teams said in a statement.


"In relation to the finding that the teams wrongfully refused to allow their cars to start the race having regard to their right to use the pit lane on each lap, the charges suggested only one means by which the teams could safely have raced (the use of a speed restriction). On that charge, the teams were found not guilty.


"In light of written advice from Michelin that it was unsafe to race at Indianapolis on the tyres supplied, the teams had no choice but to decline to race. Any other decision would have been irresponsible. Nineteen of the current F1 drivers expressed their agreement with the decision of the teams," it concluded.


Meanwhile, FIA president Max Mosley has ruled out race bans as an appropriate penalty for the Michelin teams, saying that it was more likely that BAR, Williams, Renault, Sauber, McLaren and Toyota would be fined.


"I would be reluctant to do anything with points," said the Briton. "It would not be appropriate to deduct points or ban people."


Mosley explained the decision to delay the imposition of penalties until September 14 "as an opportunity for teams to 'sort out' the melee, including ensuring it doesn't recur".


He added: "We said if you don't sort it out, we will not take a lenient view. It is very important that F1 retains its position in the States. If we give (the teams) a bit of time, we will know in September what has been done."

Original article from Car