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Merc seeks Red Bull punishiment

Championship leader Mercedes has urged FIA judges to add to Red Bull's penalty amid Formula 1's fuel flow affair.

In Paris on Monday (April 14), judges heard Red Bull's appeal against Daniel Ricciardo's Melbourne disqualification. Mercedes argued that the original penalty was not enough.

BREAKING THE RULES

The team's lawyer said Mercedes is worried that because Red Bull broke the rules in "such a flagrant and deliberate" manner, that "there is a real risk that it will do it again".

Mercedes' lawyer added: "The most effective way of ensuring that Red Bull do not flout further written and oral instructions from the FIA is for this court to recognise the severity of its infringement and to impose a further sanction upon them."

He said Red Bull should be made "acutely aware" of the need to follow the rules by having the further penalty suspended "for at least the remainder of this season".

Mercedes' lawyer said it and presumably "other teams" present in Paris (Lotus, Williams, McLaren and Force India) chose to appear in order to ensure "a level playing field going forward for the remainder of the season".

Reports said the court's decision will be published early on Tuesday (April 15).

'DEEPLY UNFAIR'

Niki Lauda said the recent criticism of F1's new 2014 rules, including the limit on fuel flow, has been "ridiculous".

Lauda said: "Everyone criticises F1 only because Mercedes wins.  It is a ridiculous situation and deeply unfair.

"In the second half of last season we were all bored of Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel, so that another team is at the front is the best thing that could have happened."
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