18/09/2007
NEWS STORY
The FIA has revealed that on the eve of the appeal hearing, following McLarens exclusion from the Hungarian GP as a constructor, the Woking team has withdrawn its appeal.
The FIA statement reads as follows:
"At the qualifying session of the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix, the Panel of the Stewards of the meeting found that one of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ("McLaren") drivers had obstructed another in the pit lane. A penalty was imposed preventing McLaren from scoring points in the Constructors Championship at that meeting.
McLaren have notified the International Court of Appeal this morning that they wish to withdraw their appeal against the decision of the Stewards."
Had the appeal been successful, the prize money won as a result of the 15 points scored would have helped towards the $100m fine imposed on the team last week as a result of the spy saga.
However, there is every likelihood that the appeal would have been unsuccessful, leading to an even heavier penalty for the Woking team.