Imago
Cyril Abiteboul
Imago
Cyril Abiteboul
Last week, Racing Point were docked 15 points and had to pay a fine of Euro 400,000 after the FIA charged them with “abnormal development” of their rear brake ducts. The protest was started by midfield rivals Renault, who are still not satisfied with the FIA’s verdict. According to Renault’s team principal Cyril Abiteboul, the FIA’s verdict has been too lenient and inconsistent.
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Last year, the French team had borne the full force of an FIA verdict that led to their disqualification from the Japanese Grand Prix. Interestingly, the team that had lead those protests was Racing Point. Therefore, Renault feels that the Silverstone-based team have been let off the hook way too easily.
Speaking to the media ahead of Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, Abiteboul said, “We were expecting a consistent sanction with other sanctions that we have seen in the past. The most recent being the one that we accepted at Suzuka, when we were found in breach of sporting regulations and not the technical regulations, and excluded from that event, therefore, losing all our points.
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“There was no discount for Renault. So I don’t know why there should be a discount for Racing Point. it should be all the points of the events that we have protested.”
Renault boss wants more clarity over FIA’s decision to reprimand Racing Point after every race
Abiteboul admitted to being confused over the FIA’s decision to allow Racing Point to use their brake ducts. Especially since the team will, nevertheless, be reprimanded after every race.
He said, “We’re going to be in a bit of a strange situation. After every single event, Otmar will be called to the stewards. His brake ducts will be found similar to what they were and unchanged. And again he will receive a reprimand. So we are facing the prospect of 10 races where his car will be reprimanded. I think we would like to have also a bit more clarity about that.”
Renault, along with Ferrari are the two teams that are still unhappy with the FIA’s verdict. Racing Point, for their part, isn’t taking a step back either. They have made it clear they will launch their very own appeal, claiming their innocence. So keep an eye out for more news regarding this saga because it’s unlikely to end anytime soon.
