19/11/2015
NEWS STORY
Williams has chosen not to appeal Felipe Massa's exclusion from the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The team was deemed to have breached Article 12.5.1 of the FIA Formula One Technical regulations, Article 3.2 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations and Article 12.1.1.i of the FIA International Sporting Code when pre-race checks allegedly found the right-rear tyre on Massa's car to be 27 degrees C above the maximum tread temperature of 110 degrees.
Consequently, the Brazilian was excluded from the results and his eighth place handed to Romain Grosjean, with Max Verstappen and Pastor Maldonado also benefiting.
Though the team had said it would appeal the decision it has tonight said it will not, despite claiming to have evidence that it insists would have proven its case.
"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 Williams in a statement.
"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."
Indeed, with Valtteri Bottas finishing fifth, the Grove outfit secured third in the championship for the second successive season.