How Long After A Race Can A Result Be Changed?

[jonnyeol]

We've got a thread on 'Diffusergate' and regardless of that, the Oz GP result still changed twice after the chequered flag thanks to 'Lie-Gate'. We also saw the BAR cars DQed from Imola 2005, even though only Button's car was protested initally. Looking back a long way, Schuey and Coulthard were DQed from Brazil 1995 and didn't get the points back until after the next race. Even further back, Tyrell were retroactively DQed from every race they finished in 1984, even though the alleged 'illegality' wasn't found until the Detroit GP.

We know that protests can really drag out with appeals and counter-appeals - but is the result of a Grand Prix (and therefore the Championship) ever FINAL, ABSOLUTE, NEVER-TO-BE-CHANGED-AGAIN? If so, how long after a race, or a season, can it be changed?

[Yannick]

It's hard to say, really. But nobody wants to disqualify Prost and Senna for the Suzuka incidents that each of them caused whilst fighting for the championship, based on the precedent of the Schumacher disqualification of Jerez 97.

[IVY440]

This is what I found in the Code of the FIA

A protest against the entry of a competitor or driver, or against the length of the course must be lodged, at the latest, two hours after the closing time for the official scrutineering of the vehicles.

and this

If, in events forming part of a FIA Championship, a new element is discovered, whether or not the stewards of the meeting have already given a ruling, these stewards of the meeting or, failing this, those designated by the FIA, must meet on a date agreed amongst themselves, summoning the party or parties concerned to hear any relevant explanations and to judge in the light of the facts and elements brought before them.
The right of appeal against this new decision is confined to the party or parties concerned in accordance with the final paragraph of Article 180 and the following Articles of this Code. Should the first decision already have been the subject of an appeal before the National Court of Appeal or before the International Court of Appeal, or successively before both of these courts, the case shall be lawfully submitted to them for the possible revision of their previous decision. The period during which an appeal in review may be brought expires on 30 November of the current year.

[Ross Prawn]

This is what I found in the Code of the FIA

What! You have the code of the FIA. And you bothered to read it.

Why can't you speculate in an ill informed manner like the rest of us.

[Alianora La Canta]

There is a WMSC meeting after the main seasons finish but (usually) before the November 30 date stipulated in the Code, which is required to look at any outstanding issues and confirm the final results as per the Code. Once that meeting is concluded, the results are fixed and immobile.

There is one exception. In June 2007, the initial judgement concerning the Ferrari/McLaren mess included a statement that allowed the FIA a special exemption to bring charges beyond this limit if the evidence warranted. Perhaps fortunately, the evidence surfaced some time before that condition could be triggered, so in the end 2007 was decided the same way as every other year.