A - The incident involving Michael Schumacher on lap 48 of the 1997 European Grand Prix (Jerez, 26 October)

B - Alleged collusion between West McLaren Mercedes and Williams Grand Prix Engineering concerning the result of the 1997 European Grand Prix (Jerez, 26 October)

After hearing the parties, the World Motor Sport Council took the following decisions:

CASE A
The World Council found that Michael Schumacher's manoeuvre was an instinctive reaction and although deliberate not made with malice or premeditation. It was a serious error. The World Council decided to exclude Michael Schumacher from the results of the 1997 FIA Formula One World Championship for drivers. The final results of the FIA Formula One World Championship have been modified accordingly. The results of the Constructors' Championship remain unchanged. Michael Schumacher retains his points and victories recorded during the 1997 season.

In lieu of any further penalty or fine, Michael Schumacher agreed to participate in the FIA European road safety campaign for a total of seven days in 1998.

CASE B
West McLaren Mercedes and Williams Grand Prix Engineering were able to show that there was no arrangement to fix the results of the 1997 European Grand Prix.

For the future, in order to avoid possible misunderstandings and ambiguities, the World Motor Sport Council recommended that all radio transmissions between drivers and their pits should be freely accessible by journalists and the public.

WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD
The World Motor Sport Council homologated the new world land speed records set by the team Thrust SSC of Richard Noble, driver Andy Green, on 15 October 1997 at Black Rock Desert, Nevada (USA).

This is the first time in history that a land vehicle has exceeded the speed of sound. The new records are as follows:

Flying mile 763.035 mph (1227.985 kph)
Flying kilometre 1223.657 kph (760.343 mph)

In setting the record, the sound barrier was broken in both the north and south runs.


Paris, 11 November 1997