FIA anticipates more Racing Point F1 protests by Renault

The FIA is anticipating that the Renault Formula 1 team will submit another protest concerning Racing Point’s brake ducts after the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Renault launched a protest against the cars of Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll after the Styrian GP, in which the Racing Points finished sixth and seventh, suggesting that they are copies of those used on the 2019 Mercedes.

As Racing Point has chosen to continue to run the contentious brake ducts, Renault has the option to protest them after each race.

Racing Point is now preparing its defence, and governing body the FIA anticipates that if all the evidence is gathered on time the case will be heard in the last week of July, just prior to the British GP.

If that happens a result will emerge before that race.

However, if the losing team then appeals, the case will probably continue until after round six in Spain – potentially triggering further protests at the two Silverstone races, and in Barcelona.

“Currently they’ve protested the Styrian GP,” said the FIA’s head of single seater technical matters Nikolas Tombazis.

“They have the right to protest other grands prix until this matter’s adjudicated, and Racing Point have the right to run with these components or other components.

“Depending on whether they feel confident about winning the case or not, and if ultimately, Renault decides to protest every single race, they have the right to do that. And Racing Point would have that risk to take.

“I think it is likely that we will see therefore, for formality reasons, protests potentially.

“It’s Renault’s decision, it is certainly not our decision or our desire or anybody’s. But I think it is likely we’re going to see protests perhaps until this matters adjudicated.”

Tombazis said that the timing of the case depends on when the evidence is put together.

“The stewards gave Racing Point three weeks to submit their document.

“I think it is fair to say that Racing Point are likely to finish this work earlier than three weeks.

“I’m not sure, it’s their prerogative, but I expect they would have a submission to make in the coming week.

“And so I expect the stewards would convene sometime probably the week before Silverstone.

“But again, that depends on when Racing Point complete their submission, and we the FIA technical department complete our submission.

“But it’s likely a possible adjudication date is the week before the first Silverstone.

“Under normal circumstances, the stewards would decide within a few hours, or a day or so from that hearing.

“Theoretically, the team that is less happy with the stewards’ decision can then decide to appeal, and it goes to the International Court of Appeal.

“And then of course, it’s another set of preparations and lawyers and submissions involved.

“So that could probably take us to the week after Spanish Grand Prix, or something along those lines.

“Theoretically, their decision is going to be the final one. So we’re talking towards late August, that we could have a final decision in this matter if teams decide to go to the ultimate extent of appealing.”

Tombazis said that if there are multiple protests across different race weekends, the same set of stewards would be involved throughout.