Mercedes boss Toto Wolff not expecting Racing Point furore to go to Court of Appeal

Racing Point

Wolff not expecting Racing Point furore to go to Court of Appeal

Renault withdrew from the process this week

Ian Parkes

Friday 28 August 2020 14:03

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff is not now expecting the Racing Point brake duct saga to head to the International Court of Appeal.

Renault caused a stir in midweek when it announced it was withdrawing from the appeals process. The team had initially protested the brake ducts on Racing Point's RP20 after the Styrian, Hungarian and British Grands Prix.

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, but with the French manufacturer also pulling out, it has left the Scuderia up against the Silverstone-based team.

Wolff, though, believes the situation will soon be resolved.

"I think this is part of the politics in Formula 1," said Wolff on Sky Sports F1. "It was a little bit of pushing against Racing Point's performance. They've been outstanding this season.

"But it's not down to a brake duct. I think they've done a really good job, and you can see how close they are to us.

"This is a good group of people that have run in previous years with a low budget, a tight ship, and this is why they've closed that gap, also to us.

"I think this is going to be resolved, hopefully next week. I don't expect this to go to the ICA."

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