Audi referred to the DMSB for potential unsporting conduct

Audi Sport could face potential further sanctions following Team Phoenix driver Timo Scheider’s exclusion from the second race at the Red Bull Ring, after the manufacturer was referred to the appeal court of the DMSB by the stewards following a four hour investigation.

On the final lap of the second race, two-time champion Timo Scheider made contact with the rear of HWA Mercedes’ Robert Wickens at Turn 3, who in turn ran into the back of team-mate Pascal Wehrlein, with both drivers knocked into the gravel trap and out of the race, with Scheider inheriting sixth position as a result.

Scheider was excluded for the incident itself, but the main controversy surrounds the radio message sent to Scheider by the head of Audi Sport Motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, seemingly instructing Scheider to “schieb ihn raus”, which translates as “take him out”.

After initially denying any such order was given, Dr. Ullrich then confirmed that he did speak those words, but was unaware that he was transmitting the message to his driver, and that they were simply spoken in the heat of the moment.

With no conclusion on this part of the offence able to be made by the stewards at the circuit, the matter has been referred to Germany’s national sporting authority (ASN), the DMSB, for review by the appeals board.

Until this has been heard, the results of the race, which was won by Audi’s Mattias Ekström, launching the Swede into a 13-point lead of the standings, with Wehrlein dropping from the lead to third, remain provisional.

Audi Sport have already confirmed they will not appeal Scheider’s exclusion from the race.