Ferrari given Thursday deadline to appeal Sebastian Vettel penalty at Canadian Grand Prix

Ferrari have until Thursday to provide further evidence in a bid to overturn the five-second penalty that cost Sebastian Vettel victory at yesterday’s Canadian Grand Prix.

On Sunday night, the team notified the FIA — the sport’s governing body — they intended to appeal against the decision following an incident with Lewis Hamilton, who was gifted a fifth win of the season as a result of the penalty.

Under current rules, time penalties dished out during the course of a race cannot be the subject of an appeal. However, there could be grounds for that appeal if new evidence is brought forward.

Under pressure from Hamilton going into turn three on lap 48, the German lost the rear end of his car and cut across the grass before rejoining in front of his title rival. Stewards ruled he had done so in an “unsafe manner”, which resulted in the time penalty and demoted him to runner-up.

Vettel and Ferrari were livid after the penalty, with a host of former world champions siding with them.

Nigel Mansell, who won the title in 1992, said: “Very embarrassing. No joy in watching this race, two champions driving brilliantly, will end in a false result.”

Fellow Briton Damon Hill, the 1996 champion, said: “Vettel could have left more room but we lost a great final few laps because of the penalty.”

Vettel angrily parked at the end of the pitlane and then took the No1 board away from it’s position in front of Hamilton’s car. He also initially refused to take to the podium.

He said: “It’s not making our sport popular with these decisions. People want us to race and that was racing.”