Renault: “Excessive and unfair sanction”

Renault does not yet know whether or not its cars will be able to line up at the start of the European Grand Prix, in Valencia, this weekend. However, the Franco-British team pleaded its case this Monday before the FIA ​​Court of Appeal, in order to obtain the lifting of this suspension, following the loss of a wheel. Fernando Alonso during the Hungarian Grand Prix. “ Renault considers this decision to be extremely unfair », Declared to Reuters Ali Malek, lawyer for the team, leaving the FIA ​​headquarters.

Suspended for a race following an error in the pits, the team considers that this type of sanction “ should be reserved for serious offenses such as cheating or willful error. » Renault denies having made a willful mistake, arguing a misunderstanding of the nature of the problem with Alonso's wheel. “ This harsh sanction is excessive, unfair and should not have been taken. This matter deserves no more than a reprimand “, repeated Ali Malek.

Renault acknowledges that the problem with the wheel was known to the mechanic concerned at the time of Fernando Alonso's restart. But the team denies not having informed the Spanish driver, the information not having spread in the pit. “ Moral responsibility is determined based on knowledge of the facts and what is important is who knew what. The only people who knew what was happening to the wheel were the two mechanics. No one on the pit wall knew there was a problem and the driver didn't know either. There was a sequence of unfortunate events but no intentional error. »

The FIA ​​cannot accept that Renault hides behind such arguments, the team being held responsible when such failures occur. “ The car should not have been allowed to return to the track “, declared Paul Harris, the lawyer of the FIA. For the International Automobile Federation, the people responsible for the loss of Fernando Alonso's wheel " are employees of Renault and their knowledge of the facts must be attributed to the team. Renault cannot simply hide behind its faulty procedures to explain that there was no communication. One mistake doesn't fix another. » The decision of the FIA ​​Court of Appeal must be rendered on Tuesday at the latest.