Renault will not appeal after its double disqualification at Suzuka

Renault had until Wednesday, October 24, 10:00 a.m. Mexico City time to appeal and contest the disqualification of its pilots Daniel Ricciardo et Nico Hulkenberg in Suzuka. 

On the evening of the Japanese GP, Racing Point relied on information from a former Losange employee to file a 12-page complaint against the RS19s, the Silverstone team accusing the single-seaters ofenstone to use an automated brake distribution system. 

After careful study of the French standardized steering wheels and electronic boxes, which had been placed under seal after the Suzuka race, the stewards judged the RS19 technically legal while emphasizing that it benefited from " innovative solutions to exploit certain gray areas ". Renault was still penalized for breaching sporting regulations, with officials ruling that Ricciardo and Hülkenberg had used what appeared to be driver aids. 

How does a car who respects the technical regulations can it be challenged on a sporting level? This is one of the major questions in this thorny issue and a point which could suggest that Renault was going to appeal.

The French manufacturer finally gave up taking the matter to legal grounds but made it known in a rather acidic official press release that it “ regrets the decision of the commissioners, in particular the severity of the sanction. We believe that the penalty is not proportional to the possible advantage that could have resulted from the use of a system deemed perfectly legal and innovative. This sanction is also inconsistent in light of similar precedents, as officials acknowledged in their briefing.

However, we have no other evidence to provide to once again demonstrate the legality of our system. We do not want to invest time and money in a sterile debate which will end up before the Court of Appeal and concerns a subjective judgment and sanction on an aid which reduces the pilot's workload without improving the performance of the car. 

La Formula 1 has always been a field of search for the slightest competitive advantage. We have continued to embrace this philosophy of innovation and will continue to do so. However, we will strengthen our procedures to ensure that our future findings are validated in advance. ». 

Renault's decision confirms the loss of the 9 points gleaned in Japan and allows its pursuers Toro Rosso and Racing Point to return to its 5th place in the Manufacturers' standings.