Renault's 'illegal' brake system has been used for years, Abiteboul reveals
Renault's 'illegal' brake system has been used for years, Abiteboul reveals
Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul has revealed that the team's controversial brake system has been in use for "many years" before it got them disqualified from the Japanese Grand Prix.
Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg were stripped of sixth and 10th-place finishes respectively after an automatic brake-bias adjustment was deemed to be a driver aid following a protest from Racing Point.
Otmar Szafnauer confirmed in Mexico that Racing Point's objection came after the FIA had told them they would not be allowed to develop a similar system, but Abiteboul says it has passed scrutiny for a long time, with reports suggesting it has been on Enstone-based cars since the team's Lotus guise in 2015.
"It's not from this season. It's from before," he said.
"I agree that it's a driver aid just like we said before. A number of things are driver aids, so you need also to accept that there is an element of subjectivity.
"It's been used since so many years that we never thought that it could be put into question until what happened recently."
Abiteboul said the fact that the system could pass the scrutiny by one set of regulations, but not enough could set F1 up for more difficult cases in the future.
He said: "It was important for us to get across the message that a car is legal in accordance to the technical regulation.
"But we also recognise that you need to comply not just with one set of regulation, but with all sets of regulation: technical, sporting… tomorrow there will be the financial regulations.
"So as Formula 1 is evolving, regulations are getting more and more complex. Sometimes they can also even contradict themselves.
"The stewards have judged that it's not acceptable. So be it. For me it's harsh on the team. It's also even harsher on drivers because I think it's a very poor recognition of what they are doing. It's shading a negative light on what they are doing, the way that they are performing in the car."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 News Today: Horner reveals Verstappen SECRET as team reveal surprise name change
- 38 minutes ago
Ferrari announce DRASTIC change as Verstappen issues dire warning to bosses - GPFans F1 Recap
- Today 00:27
Hamilton sends strong message over Gaza deaths
- Yesterday 22:57
F1 giants announce name change with IMMEDIATE effect
- Yesterday 21:57
Horner admits Red Bull at MAJOR disadvantage with new rules
- Yesterday 20:57
Horner reveals 'unhuman' Verstappen secret
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
Ferrari chief Vasseur takes swipe at former F1 employers
Former F1 winner reveals playing CARD GAMES with team-mate and boss moments before races
Former F1 winner makes 'SHARK' claim in attack on former boss Jordan
F1 great SLAMS Alpine bosses for 'thinking they know everything'
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860