Sort It Out: Part 2 in an Ongoing Series I Suspect

Having been retrospectively promoted from fourth to third place as a result of a breach of rule by Jarno Trulli in last weeks Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team have today been disqualified from that race for giving "deliberately misleading" evidence to the race stewards. As a result, Trulli has been promoted back to third place. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes have confirmed they will not appeal the decision prefering to focus on the forthcoming weekends racing.

Now, I don't pretend to follow the sport so closely that I understand every subtle nuance of racing etiquete so let's put aside whether Lewis Hamilton did deliberate mislead the enquiry for now.

In general terms, if a disdemeanor has occured then the perpetrator should be punished - I have no problem with this, who would? My concern is the time it seems to take to consider the evidence and reach a decision.

There are 101 cameras following the action around the track along with cameras in the cars, in the stewards room and the pit lane. The team radio transmission are monitored and recorded - indeed these broadcasts form an integral part of the television coverage. There must be 100 or more marshalls (if that's the right term) placed strategically around the track to observe and advise and the performance of every car is electronically monitored and recorded.

With all of these resources surely a decision can be reached sooner. I will accept that with so much 'evidence' to consider that the podium celebrations won't always accurately reflect the final result but perhaps there could be a more satisfactory - realistic - cut-off point for objections/appeals and the subsequent investigation.

How about 2 hours after the race for an objection to be raised with a further 4 hours for a decision - that way everyone, newspapers included (in Europe at least - surely the largest and most important territory for F1) would know where things stand before the end of the day of the race.

If only for my own enjoyment of the sport I really do hope things change.