Grosjean reveals how long Renault's 'illegal' brake system has been in F1

Romain Grosjean has suggested that Renault's brake system, deemed illegal at the Japanese Grand Prix – may have been in operation in F1 for almost five years.

Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg were stripped of sixth and 10th-place finishes respectively in Suzuka after an automatic brake-bias adjustment was deemed to be a driver aid following a protest from Racing Point.

Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul confirmed that the system had been used for many years, with reports suggesting it may even have been in use before the French outfit returned to the grid in 2016.

And when quizzed on whether the system had been in place when he raced for the Enstone team in its Lotus guise in 2015, Grosjean said: "I may have. Yes."

The Frenchman scored a third-place finish at the Belgian GP in 2015, the Enstone outfit's last podium in F1, with Renault having failed to take to the rostrum since returning to F1 as a works team.

Asked for his view on the device's legality, Grosjean added: "Well let's say that I asked to replicate it later on and they wouldn't do it. It was good though."

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.

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