Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium. Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, 16 March 2014. © Sutton Images
Red Bull chose to rely on their own fuel calculations in Melbourne, after experiencing what they termed ‘inconsistencies’ with the FIA-approved flow meter, and insist they can prove they never exceeded the 100kg per hour limit.
The FIA - Formula One racing’s governing body - countered that allowances had been made for any such ‘inconsistencies’ and that using alternative calculation methods without its express permission was in itself also a breach of the regulations.
Red Bull, however, were expected to put forward their belief that the regulations are unclear on the mandatory use of the FIA sensor, and that additional technical directives issued by the FIA’s F1 race director Charlie Whiting on the subject do not have regulatory value.
Should Red Bull win their appeal, they would regain 18 world championship points. This would lift the team from fourth to second place in the constructors’ standings, and promote Ricciardo from tenth to third in the driver standings.
Following the lengthy hearing, the International Court of Appeal is now expected to publish its verdict on Tuesday.