Mercedes has said that it will appeal the decision to award Michael Schumacher a 20s penalty for his move on Fernando Alonso on the last lap of the Monaco Grand Prix.

The move, and the subsequent penalty, are currently creating more of a buzz than the race, with many fans confused as to why exactly the German was penalised.

While the Race Stewards - who included the German's former rival Damon Hill - deemed that Schumacher had contravened rule 40.13, which states that "if the race ends whilst the safety car is deployed it will enter the pitlane at the end of the last lap and the cars will take the chequered flag as normal without overtaking", many side with Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn who argued post-race that once the Safety Car had left the track - and the white line crossed - the race was effectively back on.

"We believed that the track had gone green and the race was not finishing under a safety car when article 40.13 clearly would have applied," said Brawn. "The reason for the safety car had been removed, the FIA had announced 'Safety Car in this lap' early on lap 78 and the track had been declared clear by race control. This was further endorsed when the marshals showed green flags and lights after safety car line one. On previous occasions when it has been necessary to complete a race under a safety car, full course yellows are maintained, as in Melbourne 2009. On the last lap, we therefore advised our drivers that they should race to the line and Michael made his move on Fernando for sixth place. We have appealed the decision of the stewards."

Once the FIA has formally received Mercedes appeal, the decision will be heard by the FIA's Court of Appeal.

To check out our Monaco GP gallery, click here