Williams’ Felipe Massa has been excluded from the results of the Formula 1 Grande Premio Petrobras do Brasil 2015 after the stewards found that his right-rear tyre did not comply with the maximum permitted temperature ahead of the start of the race.
Williams have, however, served notice of an appeal following the verdict.
Checks made on the grid by the FIA after the five-minute signal had been given revealed that Massa’s right-rear tyre was 137 degrees Celsius, which is 27 degrees above the maximum temperature of 110 allowed by Pirelli.
The corresponding tyre pressure at 137 degrees was 20.6 psi, 0.1 psi above the minimum starting pressure.
The matter was referred to the stewards who, after hearing from a Williams representative, determined that the team had breached article 12.5.1 of the Technical Regulations, Article 3.2 of Sporting Regulations and Article 12.1.1.i of the FIA International Sporting Code.
Massa was thus excluded from his eighth-place finish, lifting Lotus’s Romain Grosjean and Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen into eighth and ninth respectively, and Lotus’s Pastor Maldonado into the final points-paying position of 10th.
