Raikkonen's fourth place finish legal says FIA
13th may, 2001

The FIA have rejected an appeal against Kimi Raikkonen's fourth place in the Austrian Grand Prix from the BAR team. The team had put in a complaint after the race alleging that one of their drivers saw Raikkonen lap a backmarker while yellow flags were being waved, which is an infringement of the sport's regulations. After reviewing video footage of the incident race stewards have decided that Raikkonen had swerved past Luciano Burti in an effort to avoid a collision, rather than in an overtaking manoeuvre, and officially classified him as fourth.

However, there is still another twist to this tale as BAR are refusing to accept the FIA decision, and have stated their intent to appeal against it. The team will have to lodge their complaint with the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) within the next seven days, who will then pass the appeal on to the FIA.

There is no time limit as to when the FIA has to respond to the appeal, and so it is not clear when fourth, fifth and sixth positions in the Austrian GP will be made official. Should BAR lose the case they will be fined under the sport's regulations.