Schumacher wins appeal

Ralf Schumacher will not have to start Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix 10 places back from his qualifying position, an FIA appeal hearing ruled yesterday.

Schumacher was penalised for his involvement in a first-lap crash at the German Grand Prix which also involved Rubens Barrichello and Kimi Raikkonen.

The sport's governing body's court of appeal upheld the decision of race stewards to punish the German, but deemed the penalty "inappropriate" and replaced it with a £33,000 fine.

The court also queried the roles of Barrichello and Raikkonen, and referred the matter back for German stewards to reinvestigate whether the pair were also responsible.