The FIA has confirmed the decision to investigate Racing Point’s protest against Renault following the F1 Japanese GP but the decision won’t be taken soon.
The stewards have been kept busy post a already long day in F1 Japanese GP at Suzuka. They had two incidents to look at when Racing Point lodged a complaint against Renault after the grand prix, related to sporting and technical infringement.
Both the cars of Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg was protested for an ‘alleged breach of FIA Formula One Sporting and Technical Regulations, FIA International Sporting Code regarding pre-set lap distance-dependent brake bias adjustment system’.
The meeting took place at 18:30 local time with representatives of Racing Point, Renault and also the FIA Technical Department present in the stewards room. Having reviewed the documents presented by Racing Point’s rep, the FIA deemed the protest ‘admissible’.
It noted that the protest will be looked into as per the requirements under Article 13 of the International Sporting Code. The FIA Technical Department has impounded the standard electronic control units and steering wheels for investigation.
They will conduct a detailed anaylsis and seek help from Racing Point as well as Renault for clarifications. The team will then have to notify the findings to the Chairman of Stewards for the meeting to be set-up to assess the claims made by the team.
No decision will be taken on Sunday. However, the technical team has time until Wednesday to assess if there is a need to have an official meeting to take the case forward or not. The full statement from the FIA post the initial meet, stated:
“Having received a protest from SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team against the Renault F1 Team concerning an alleged pre-set lap distance-dependent brake bias adjustment system on cars 3 and 27, the Stewards summoned and heard from the team representatives of both teams and a representative of the FIA Technical Department.
“The Stewards determined that the protest met all requirements specified in Article 13 of the International Sporting Code and is, therefore, admissible. This point was agreed to by the team representatives of the Renault F1 Team.
“The FIA Technical Department representative was directed to seal and impound the FIA standard electronic control units and steering wheels of cars 3 and 27 in preparation for conducting a detailed analysis of those pieces.
“The representative is further directed to conduct a detailed analysis of the hardware, software, and data associated with them and, when complete, provide a written report to the Stewards with their findings, to include an assessment that matches those findings against the potential technical infringements detailed in the protest.
“The representative is authorized in the name of the Stewards to call upon such outside technical assistance, including representatives of the Renault F1 and SportPesa Racing Point F1 Teams, in the conduct of their assessment.
“When the likely submission date of the assessment can be determined, the FIA Technical Department representative will communicate that to the Chairman of the Stewards so that the next meeting time to assess the claims made in the protest can be scheduled.”
Despite a bad qualifying, Renault finished in points in Japanese GP with Ricciardo sxith – after gaining a place due to Charles Leclerc’s penalty – and Hulkenberg 10th. Racing Point’s Sergio Perez was ninth as the results will stand until the decision is taken.
Meanwhile, Renault acknowledged the protest from Racing Point. The French manufacturer added that it will prepare its answer in the best way possible and come clear of the alleged infringement.
“Renault F1 Team acknowledges the protest lodged by SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team concerning its brake bias system following the Japanese Grand Prix. Team representatives have met with the Stewards of the Event at Suzuka, but due to the complexity of the 12 page dossier prepared by SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team, a further meeting will take place at a future date, to be defined.
“Renault F1 Team intends to use this recess to prepare an equally detailed case to rigorously defend its position. The results of the Japanese Grand Prix still stand at the current time.”
Here’s the FIA note on other investigations in full
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More to come