Raikkonen fourth protested by BAR.

British American Racing has protested Kimi Raikkonen's fourth place finish at the Austrian Grand Prix, after suggestions that the young Finn may have lapped Luciano Burti under yellow flags.

In a move which smacks of retaliation following Sauber's successful protesting of BAR's Olivier Panis in Australia, the Brackley team is hoping to gain one place and a similar number of points by having Raikkonen penalised for a move which, in reality, would not have influenced the race result.

An initial protest was thrown out by race stewards who, on reviewing footage of the event, decided that Raikkonen took evasive action when Burti slowed rounding the final corner, where yellow flags were being waved to cover marshals working on Jenson Button's stricken Benetton.

BAR is refusing to let the matter lie, however, and has launched a second protest which, if successful could move Panis into fourth place. Should the Royal Automobile Club - to which the motion has been passed - and the FIA decide that there is no case for Sauber to answer, however, Craig Pollock's team could be in line for a heavy fine.

No time limit has been set for the resolution of the affair, leaving the world championship standings uncertain for the immediate future.