Following yesterday’s hearing by the Court of Appeal in Paris, BAR learned today that they would be disqualified from last month’s San Marino Grand Prix and banned from the next two events. They were also handed a further six month ban that will be suspended for a year.

This is nowhere near as severe as the season-long ban and million euro penalty that the FIA had asked for but it will still hit them hard as, apart from losing the only points they have scored so far this season, they will also miss the prestigious Monaco GP.

At issue was a “secret” fuel tank inside their main tank which could have held fuel that was used as ballast when the car was weighed after the race when the main tank was pumped dry. By using this fuel during the race the car could have become lighter than the minimum allowed weight and thus have gained an unfair advantage.

There is no proof that they actually did ever run under the minimum weight but they had the ability to and they cannot prove that they didn’t and so they will be penalized.

BAR have complained that they were unfairly treated but “in the interests of the sport” they will not appeal the decision. This may have been a very wise move as the general feeling is that they got off lightly and they might not be so lucky a second time.