Renault withdraws appeal against Racing Point

Renault

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Renault withdraws appeal against Racing Point

Team calls for "controversy...to be put behind us"

Ian Parkes

Tuesday 25 August 2020 21:41

Renault has opted to withdraw from the appeals process against the stewards' decisions regarding the legality of Racing Point's brake ducts.

The team initially protested the parts on Racing Point's RP20 after the Styrian, Hungarian and British Grands Prix as the 'copying' controversy took hold.

A stewards' hearing, held shortly before the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone, resulted in Racing Point being docked 15 constructors' championship points and fined €400,000 after the team was found to be in breach of the FIA's sporting regulations relating to listed parts.

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Racing Point avoided further potentially more stringent sanctions as it had not contravened the technical regulations, allowing it to retain the brake ducts for the remainder of this season on its cars.

Five teams initially lodged an intention to appeal against the stewards' decision - Renault, Ferrari, Williams and McLaren believing the penalty was too lenient, with Racing Point naturally taking an opposing view.

Only Renault, Ferrari and Racing Point, however, then pursued an appeal as Williams and McLaren withdrew.

Now Renault has opted not to head for an International Court of Appeal hearing.

Via a team statement issued on Tuesday evening, it said: "Renault DP World F1 Team confirms that it has requested to withdraw the appeals lodged against the stewards’ decisions in relation to BWT Racing Point F1 Team’s brake ducts.

"Beyond the decisions, the matters at issue were vital to the integrity of Formula One, both during the current season and in the future.

"However, intensive and constructive work between the FIA, Renault DP World F1 Team and all Formula One stakeholders has led to concrete progress in safeguarding the originality in the sport by way of amendments to the sporting and technical regulations planned for the 2021 racing season, confirming the requirements to qualify as a constructor.

"Reaching this strategic objective, in the context of the new Concorde Agreement, was our priority.

"The controversy of the start of this season should be put behind us, as we need to focus on the remainder of an intense and unique championship."

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