FIA throws out Alfa Romeo German GP penalty appeal

©AlfaRomeo

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The FIA's International Court of Appeal has found Alfa Romeo's protest against its German Grand Prix penalty to be inadmissible.

Both Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi were hit with post-race 30-second time penalties that kicked both drivers out of the points at Hockenheim.

The demotion lifted Lewis Hamilton - who had initially finished P11 - to ninth while Williams' Robert Kubica was promoted to tenth, allowing the Grove-based outfit to collect its only point to date in 2019.

As a result of today's FIA decision, positions and points remain unchanged in the constructors' and drivers' championship standings.

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The penalties leveled by the stewards on Alfa Romeo involved a breach of the technical regulations related to clutch settings.

"The situation arose during the laps we spent behind the safety car ahead of the standing start," explained Alfa boss Frederic Vasseur at the time.

"We suffered a dysfunction of the clutch that was beyond our control. We respect the FIA’s process and the stewards’ work, but believe we have the grounds and evidence to have it overturned."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.