Haas F1 Will Not Appeal Force India Decision

Haas Formula 1 will not appeal a decision by Abu Dhabi Grand Prix stewards to dismiss its protest over the official recognition of Force India, according to Shrivathsa Sridhar of REUTERS. Haas argued that Force India, which went into administration in July and re-emerged under new ownership in August, had "breached the rules" and that the cars of Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon "should not be allowed to race in the season" (REUTERS, 11/28). MOTORSPORT's Scott Mitchell reported though this specific protest was "over a sporting matter," the row is a "legacy of dispute of whether the new Force India team should be eligible for prize money." Haas does not believe the team should be allowed to immediately qualify for "Column 1" payments, for which teams need to finish in the top 10 in two of three seasons to be eligible. It argues that, as Haas had to wait for those payments after it joined the grid in '16, the new Force India entry "should have to do the same" (MOTORSPORT, 11/28).