- Red Bull appeals Daniel Ricciardo's disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix
- Ricciardo initially finished the race in second position
- The Australian's car was found to have exceeded the sport's "fuel-flow" limit
- Ricciardo was making his debut for Red Bull at his home race
Follow us at @WorldSportCNN and like us on Facebook
(CNN) -- Red Bull has appealed Daniel Ricciardo's disqualification from last weekend's Australian Grand Prix, the first round of the Formula One season.
The Australian driver, making his debut for the all-conquering team, crossed the finish line in second place before learning of his expulsion.
Race stewards found that Ricciardo's car exceeded the sport's "fuel-flow" limit.
The limit was introduced in an attempt to make the sport more fuel efficient. Each car is limited to 100kg of fuel per race.
The 2014 Formula One season begins in Australia on March 16. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has enjoyed a productive preseason, topping the timesheets on the final day of the closing test event in Bahrain. 
A raft of regulation changes have been introduced for 2014, including the return of turbo-powered engines. Renault's engines completed the fewest laps during preseason, meaning it was a frustrating series of tests for Red Bull and quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. 
The 2014 F1 cars feature one controversial modification. This year they sport droopy, "anteater" noses, and have been branded the ugliest in the sport's history. 
Williams struggled last year but hopes are high for the nine-time world champion after an impressive preseason, led by new signing Felipe Massa. The former Ferrari driver recorded the fastest lap time at the final test in Bahrain. 
Ferrari enters the 2014 season with a formidable pairing of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and the returning Kimi Raikkonen -- the last driver to win the title for the Italian manufacturer back in 2007. 
Three rookies will line up in Melbourne. Denmark's Kevin Magnussen (pictured) debuts for McLaren while Sweden's Marcus Ericsson makes his bow at Caterham and Russian Daniil Kvyat comes in at Toro Rosso. 
Changes have also taken place off the grid, with Eric Boullier (pictured) leaving Lotus to become race director at McLaren, which is yet to replace team principal Martin Whitmarsh. 
The final race of 2014 has more at stake than ever, with double points on offer in Abu Dhabi. Whoever takes the checkered flag at the Yas Marina Circuit will pocket a potentially title-winning 50 points. Start your engines... 
A jubilant Nico Rosberg celebrates his superb victory in the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne. 
It was a gloomy opening to the season for four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel after he was forced to retire early in his Red Bull. 
Rosberg drove a faultless race to claim the opening grand prix of the F1 season in Australia by over 20 seconds. 
An ecstatic Daniel Ricciardo delighted the home crowd by claiming second place for Red Bull on his debut for the team. But his day was ruined after he was later disqualified for breaching fuel consumptions 
Kevin Magnussen receives the plaudits of his McLaren team after a stunning drive to finish on the podium on his F1 debut. 
Cars bunch up behind Lewis Hamilton who quickly slipped back through the field from pole and retired after three laps with an engine power fault. 
Felipe Massa and Kamui Kobayashi come to grief on the first corner of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Kobayashi took the blame for the incident which left Massa fuming. Rosberg takes F1 season-opener Read: Nico Rosberg wins season opener
Red Bull has cast doubt over the equipment used by F1's governing body the FIA to measure fuel-flow, despite its manufacturers Gil Sensors receiving "positive feedback" from the FIA.
"Inconsistencies with the FIA fuel flow meter have been prevalent all weekend up and down the pit lane," Red Bull said after Sunday's race.
"The ream and Renault (Red Bull's engine suppliers) are confident the fuel supplied to the engine is in full compliance with the regulations."
A statement on F1's official website read: "Red Bull's appeal will now be processed by the FIA, who will then set a date for its hearing."
Sunday's race was won by Mercedes' Nico Rosberg, with McLaren rookie Kevin Magnussen taking second place in Ricciardo's absence with his teammate Jenson Button in third.
The drivers will next be on the grid for the Malaysian Grand Prix, which takes place on March 30.
No comments:
Post a Comment