The Williams Martini Racing squad have decided against following through with their decision to appeal Felipe Massa’s disqualification from the Brazilian Grand Prix even though they feel they have enough evidence to disprove the irregularities that saw the Brazilian driver excluded from eighth position.
The team had immediately appealed the disqualification following last weekend’s race, with Massa’s right-rear tyre apparently twenty-seven degrees centigrade above the maximum allowed temperature after an FIA test, with Williams believing their measurements were more precise and were within the limits set out by Pirelli.
Despite this, the team have decided to withdraw its appeal, believing the case could intrude on their 2016 preparations, especially with legal costs to factor in.
“Following detailed consideration the team has concluded that despite not agreeing with the exclusion and believing it has sufficient evidence with which to successfully contest the ruling, it will not formally appeal the decision as a hearing date is unlikely to be available until after the end of the season, impacting a time when the team wishes to turn its attention to its 2016 campaign,” said a Williams statement to Autosport.
“Given the financial climate of the sport, and the fact that the decision does not impact the team’s constructors’ championship position, it has been decided that this would be an unnecessary cost to endure.”
