Red Bull appeal Ricciardo’s Australian GP disqualification

Red Bull have officially appealed against the decision that resulted in their driver Daniel Ricciardo (20/1 to win the Drivers’ Championship) being disqualified from the Australian Grand Prix season opener.

Ricciardo, 24, finished a surprise second in his home country, but was excluded from the Formula 1 race results soon after. Melbourne stewards found that his Red Bull car was using more fuel than the new season rules allow.

On the stewards’ decision, team principal Christian Horner said at the time: “I’m extremely disappointed, quite surprised and we will of course appeal.

“Hopefully through the appeal process, it will be clear the car has conformed at all times with the regulations and we have complied with technical regulations,” he added.

“We could see a significant discrepancy with what the sensor was reading and what our fuel flow was stated as – that’s where there’s a difference of opinion.

“These fuel-flow sensors, which have been fitted by the FIA to measure fuel, have proved problematic. Since their introduction, there have been discrepancies and the sensors have been unreliable.

Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, brought in a new rule this season that all race engines, when at full throttle, have to have a maximum fuel-flow rate of 100kg/h.

As a result of the Australian’s podium omission, McLaren duo Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button (both 16/1 to claim the Drivers’ Championship) were promoted to second and third respectively.

The opening race of the season saw title favourite Lewis Hamilton (2/1) and defending four-time champion Sebastian Vettel (7/2) fail to finish. They are priced at 7/4 and 12/1 respectively to win the next Grand Prix in Malaysia, however. Ricciardo, meanwhile, is 14/1 for victory to put his disappointment behind him.

Hamilton’s teammate Nico Rosberg (2/1 for the title) came first in Melbourne, and Mercedes remain odds-on favourites to win the Constructors’ Championship at the end of the season.