Minardi now blocked by stewards

Team boss Paul Stoddart is taking legal action after being told Minardi will not be allowed to compete in the Australian Grand Prix despite receiving unanimous agreement from rival teams.

Minardi did not take part in either of today’s two practice sessions and face a battle to modify their cars to make it out for tomorrow.

Stoddart eventually managed to get unanimous approval from all nine rival teams to run a 2004-specification car this weekend but ran into difficulties with the technical regulations.

Race stewards acknowledged the agreement of other teams but insisted it was “inappropriate and unacceptable” for Minardi to race with cars which did not meet 2005 technical rules.

In response, Stoddart vowed to take the matter before Victoria’s Supreme Court while simultaneously attempting to modify his cars to meet 2005 regulations.

He said: “We had a very fair hearing from the stewards. With a heavy heart they’ve decided against us.

“It leaves us now with only two options, one of which is to seek injunctive relief against the stewards’ decision, not against this event, or to try and modify the car overnight in order to be in the event tomorrow.

“We are going to seek the legal remedy. We think we have prepared a water-tight case. What I can say is that under no circumstances will we seek to disrupt this event in any shape or form.

“I compliment the stewards on their fairness. A judge who is probably far better qualified to adjudicate on these matters will now decide and obviously in tandem we will try and modify the cars.”

A statement from the stewards clarified their position.

It read: “It is the view of the stewards that it is inappropriate and unacceptable to alter the technical regulations with which all competitors comply in order to suit the individual needs and requirements of one competitor.

“It is the decision of the stewards that for the Minardi F1 team to participate further in the 2005 Australian Grand Prix, their cars must comply with all requirements of the 2005 FIA Formula One sport and technical regulations.”