13/10/2007
NEWS STORY
The Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One Team's first-ever FIA Formula One World Championship point scored in the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix has now been confirmed following an FIA Court of Appeal hearing held in Paris on Friday 12 October.
Adrian Sutil, 24, had finished ninth on track behind Toro Rosso's Vitantonio Liuzzi, but was promoted to eighth place after the FIA Stewards of the Meeting confirmed Liuzzi had overtaken Sutil under a yellow flag. Liuzzi was subsequently handed a 25 second penalty to add to his overall race time and dropped to ninth overall.
Toro Rosso challenged the decision, however the Stewards' verdict was ratified by the FIA Court of Appeal.
Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One Team principal and managing director, Colin Kolles, stated, 'I am delighted to confirm that the Court of Appeal has upheld the Stewards' decision following the Japanese Grand Prix. We felt our case was without doubt, and the FIA had no objections to our evidence. This verdict has confirmed Spyker and Adrian Sutil's first-ever World Championship point, which was well-deserved given the difficult circumstances. The boost to the team has been invaluable and we can now move onto Brazil with renewed confidence.'