Toyota withdraws Trulli appeal

Trulli finished third on the road, but the race stewards awarded him a 25-second time penalty, in lieu of a drive-through, for having overtaken Lewis Hamilton behind the safety car. The punishment dropped him to 12th in the results.

The Italian had been running third when the safety car came out near the end of the race, but ran off the track at the penultimate corner - allowing Hamilton past. By later regaining the position he had lost, Trulli was in breach of the regulations.

Toyota was swift to appeal the stewards' decision, but its initial attempt was rejected because drive-through penalties cannot be appealed.

The team then took the matter to the Australian Grand Prix's clerk of the course but, after deliberating the situation, the team has decided to drop its action. It means Hamilton will keep his third place.

A statement issued by Toyota said: "Having considered recent judgments of the International Court of Appeal and referring to the Sporting Code, it is believed that any appeal will be rejected on a procedural point such as that defined under article 152, paragraph 5 of the Sport Code [which states drive through penalties cannot be appealed].

"Based on this, Toyota Motorsport has decided that it would serve no benefit to pursue this course of action."