Williams driver Ralf Schumacher was on Wednesday hit with a 50,000 dollar fine following his appeal against sanctions that would have compromised his chances of winning the Formula One world championship.

Schumacher, the younger brother of five-time world champion Michael, had been found guilty of causing an avoidable accident in the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim two weeks ago in which McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello were forced out of the race.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced sanctions on the German which would have seen him lose 10 places on the starting grid for this Sunday's Grand Prix in Hungary.

Schumacher attended a hearing alongside representatives from the Motor Sports Association in Paris on Tuesday where he denied having deliberatley caused the crash, claiming a temporary loss of vision.

On Wednesday the FIA's Court of Appeal announced that Schumacher - who is fourth in the drivers' standings on 53 points, only 18 behind brother Michael - was guilty but should not be sanctioned during the Hungary race itself.

"Having heard the explanations of the parties and examined the various documents and other evidence the Court confirmed the Stewards' findings against Ralf Schumacher but considered that the sanction imposed was inappropriate and substituted a fine of 50,000 dollars," said the statement.

The Court said it would now ask stewards from the race to re-investigate the roles of Raikkonen and Barrichello to see if either of the drivers could be apportioned some of the blame.

The FIA said in their statement: "It appeared to the court, in particular from reading the report by Peter Wright (technical and safety consultant) analysing accident data recorder information, not available to the stewards, that some responsibility might possibly be imputed to the other two drivers involved in the incident.

"The court decided that the case should be referred back to the panel of the stewards of the German Grand Prix so that the conduct of Rubens Barrichello and Kimi Raikkonen can be considered in the light of the evidence from Mr Wright."