Schumacher stripped of pole
Schumacher stripped of pole
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Sunday, 28, May 2006 09:45
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher has been stripped of his pole position for today's Monaco Grand Prix after stewards ruled he had impeded other drivers during qualifying.
The seven-time world champion set the fastest time in qualifying but on his final lap he broke too hard and stalled his car on the racing line at the Rascasse hairpin.
This, the stewards ruled after an eight-hour inquiry, was deemed to have been a deliberate attempt to affect other drivers during their qualifying laps and the German will now start from the back of the grid.
"We have found no justifiable reason for the driver to have braked with such undue, excessive and unusual pressure at this part of the circuit," a statement from the stewards said.
"Therefore, we are left with no alternative but to conclude that the driver deliberately stopped his car on the circuit."
Ferrari were left fuming by the decision and they will now have both cars starting from the back of the grid after Felipe Massa crashed during qualifying.
They argued that it was just a mistake from Schumacher, rather than a deliberate ploy to secure pole position on a track which is very difficult to pass on.
"We totally disagree with it and such a decision creates a very serious precedent, ruling out the possibility of driver error," Ferrari team boss Jean Todt said.
"Michael was on his final timed lap and was trying to put his first place beyond doubt, as could be seen from the fact that his first split time was the best."
In a separate development, Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella was demoted to ninth position.
The Italian had qualified fifth fastest but he was alleged to have held up Red Bull's David Coulthard so he was docked of his three fastest laps.