BREAKING: Renault Accuse Racing Point of Using Ex-Employee to Submit Complaint

Published 10/25/2019, 2:37 PM EDT

Since the Japanese Grand Prix 2019, there has been a lot of back and forth between Renault and Racing Point. It all kicked off when the former submitted a complaint, saying that the French team were using pre-determined brake adjustments.

Upon investigation, the allegation was disproven, but the FIA discovered something interesting. Apparently, another braking system was revealed, which Racing Point had not noticed before.

This additional braking system supposedly acted as a driving aid according to the FIA. So, Renault were hauled up under a different offence, because, only the driver should control the car.

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We'd like to clarify some facts.
A video from Barcelona testing is doing the rounds; it shows a legal system, known by and now confirmed by the FIA to be compliant with the technical regulations. As we had nothing to hide regarding this innovative system, we hid nothing. [1/2]
— Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) October 25, 2019

Initially, the French manufacturer alleged that a crew member who left them for Racing Point, was responsible. Racing Point even submitted video evidence, namely a GoPro camera on Daniel Ricciardo’s car during the team’s shakedown earlier this year.

On the screen, it was clearly seen that the percentage value for the “brake balance” changes in the top left of the display. Racing Point, with this in their arsenal, created a multiple page document in their complaint.

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The information submitted by Racing Point, admitted in front of us and FIA members after the Japanese GP, was received via a Renault F1 Team ex-employee who had joined Racing Point and not only via this video. [2/2]
— Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) October 25, 2019

Needless to say, it did not end well for Renault, as both Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg were disqualified in Japan. Racing Point engineers analysed the on-board footage of Hülkenberg and Ricciardo. They even recorded the moments when the braking force split on the display changed without the driver turning the switch.

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All this was gradually built up to make a strong case for themselves, leaving Renault without a leg to stand on. Understandably, Renault elected not to contest the decision to disqualify them as they knew that it would be a wast of time. This was because, recourse to a stewards’ judgment normally has little chance of a successful appeal.

Now, the team have to put this drama behind them and focus on this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix 2019.

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Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.