THE FERRARI DISQUALIFICATION CONTROVERSY: THE INSIDE REPORT

The Ferrari Grand Prix team have been disqualified from the Malaysian Grand Prix held earlier today in Kuala Lumpur. Drivers Eddie Irvine who won the race and Michael Schumacher who came second have been stripped of their points. Mika Hakkinen, third was officially declared the winner and by default the new 1999 world champion.

A press release issued shortly after the race by the FIA technical delegate said that the scrutineers who examined the Ferrari F399's had found technical infringements on both cars' aerodynamic features.

"Following the race, car numbers three and four were checked for bodywork conformity," it stated. "When checking the bodywork facing the ground (article3.12.1) it was noticed that the upper parts of the deflector panels do not lie on either the reference or step planes. In my opinion neither car does comply up to 10 millimetres with article 3.12.1 of the 1999 FIA Formula One technical regulations."

Team boss Jean Todt and technical director Ross Brawn were called in for a meeting with the race officials and have been reported to have agreed with the findings.

The Malaysian race director issued a statement following the meeting excluding both cars and team from the results. It read:

"Having heard the explanation of the competitors' representative and the team's technical director and having heard the explanations of the FIA technical delegate and the team's acceptance that the bodywork did not conform, the stewards decide that neither car complies with Article 3.12.1 of the 1999 FIA FI technical regulations and therefore exclude both cars from the event. The competitor's representative is reminded of his right to appeal."

It is understood that Ferrari have appealed, but petitions are rarely successful. However there have been precedents when disqualifications have been overturned. At the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1995 Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard were disqualified and had their points withdrawn when both cars were found to have been using illegal fuel.

On appeal the drivers had their points reinstated but Benetton and Williams, the teams involved did not. Also an appeal might be overturned if the cars were found to have had no competitive advantage.

The questions that need to be answered at Malaysia are:

• Why was this infringement not picked up earlier during qualifying or practice?

• Is there any advantage to be gained by such a small dimensional change? Either the gain was significant enough for Ferrari to take the risk of possible disqualification or there was a legitimate error in manufacture. If the performance advantage is proved to be insignificant is this sufficient grounds for Ferrari's appeal to be upheld?

A further statement is expected to be issued by the FIA later. Mika Hakkinen who now has an uncatchable 12 point lead over rival Eddie Irvine, is only the 6th driver in Formula1's history to achieve a back to back world championship. The last was Michael Schumacher himself when he took the driver's title with Benetton in 1994 and 1995.

Stewart drivers Johnny Herbert and Rubens Barrichello move up two places to second and third as does Jordan's Heinz Harald Frentzen. Both Sauber driver Jean Alesi and Benetton's Alex Wurz pick up 2 and 1 point respectively