Renault Reacts To Japanese Grand Prix Race Disqualification Decision Concerning Driver Aids

After an average performance during the Japanese Grand Prix, Renault found themselves in hot water when a protest brought forth by rivals; Racing Point was upheld. The result was the disqualification of their results for that race.

That means the French racing team will lose nine points they garnered from Daniel Ricciardo and Niko Hulkenberg, who came 7th and 9th, respectively.

The protest by Racing Point was about an alleged breach of the Sporting and Technical regulations and the sporting code of the FIA concerning pre-set automated brake bias system.

The operation of the system, according to Racing Point, could be seen through onboard camera footage with the braking balance display on the steering wheels of both the drivers. It was changing without input from the drivers.

Renault disputed the accusation, and after examination of the FIA standard electronic control units and the steering wheels, which were impounded after the race, the stewards determined the control system was not pre-set or lap distance dependent.

The stewards did find that Renault had used a few loopholes for innovative solutions, but the system was not in breach of the FIA regulations. Through, they were found to have breached the policies concerning driving aids.

Formula 1 policy mandates the driver alone has to drive the car unaided, and the stewards found the system meant the drivers did not have to make a few adjustments lap by lap, even if it was not a substitute for the drivers' skills.

On Wednesday evening ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix this coming weekend, Renault gave a response to the disqualification by saying that it would take some time to decide the next move.

The team had until today to notify the FIA concerning its intentions to appeal the disqualification decision. They did release a statement saying Renault acknowledges the conclusion of the stewards in Japan concerning the protest by Racing Point and the legality of the braking system.

The statement continued, implying there was subjectivity in the qualification of a system as a driver aid, and there has been some variability in associated penalties in recent cases. That being said, the team would consider the next course of action within the given timeframe.

Following the German Grand Prix, Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi were both given 30-second penalties for breaching the same regulations on driver aids. Their results were not disqualified.

The current revision of the results places the team under pressure from Toro Rosso for the fifth position in the constructor’s championship.

Unfortunately, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg have also fallen back into 12th and 13th positions in the driver standings.