Toyota Appeal 25-Second Penalty

New evidence has come to light with regards the 25-second penalty slapped onto Jarno Trulli at the end of the Australian Grand Prix.

The evidence, in video form, has spurred Toyota to appeal against the penalty which saw Trulli drop from third to 12th in the final standings of the first race of the 2009 season.

The video, now removed from YouTube, clearly shows Trulli venturing off-track. This of course led to Lewis Hamilton having to overtake for P3 as he had nowhere to go. Jarno Trulli then claimed the place back when Lewis was instructed by team bosses to slow down or face a penalty.

FIA regulations state that a car must not overtake unless "a car in front slows with an obvious problem"—Trulli went off-track, possibly with a problem, however Hamilton slowing to let Trulli through, is this due to a problem or sportsmanship?

Toyota and Trulli believe that Hamilton had slowed due to mechanical failure, and not just to allow him through—radio communication from McLaren will be required to be submitted to the FIA so that they can sort this one out.

If the appeal is successful it will see Trulli gain his 6 points back and Hamilton, Glock, Alonso, Rosberg and Buemi will all drop a point and Frenchman Sebastian Bourdais will lose his only point.

As pointed out by The F1 Times that if we think back to Spa, 2008. Lewis Hamilton was struck with a 25-second penalty which was then appealed by McLaren, the appeal was dismissed by the FIA as drive-though's, which is what this penalty is whilst the cars are on track, cannot be appealed.

Toyota though, think they have found a loophole which allows them to appeal such a decision.

Further developments in this story will follow.