After the race, scrutineers examined the bulk of the field and Hunt was disqualified because his McLaren was found to be 1.5cm too wide and Lauda was declared the winner. One of the new rules which came into force on May 1 1976 defined how wide a Formula One car could be. McLaren appealed the decision. Two months after the race, McLaren's appeal was successful as the tribunal considered that the 1.5cm difference was "minimal" and Hunt was reinstated as the winner of the Spanish Grand Prix.