And how did Racing Point find out: https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/48466/this-is-how-racing-point-discovered-renault-s-illegal-braking-system.html... What an ass.

So it doesn’t violate the technical regulations for the car, but it violates the sporting regulations for the driver. That’s a wee bit of horse****.

Yeah, I don't get that either. It's not illegal, but we're gonna DQ you.

one explanation of the reason for the penalty, https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/what-did-renault-do-wrong-why-it-was-disqualified-japanese-gp

It’s just odd that two different portions of the regulations could be in conflict.

Exactly. Also, you probably had this for a while, but we're only gonna DQ you for Japan results.

If it was a clever run around the rules, just make it specifically illegal henceforth, and don't penalize them for being clever... If it was flagrant cheating, DQ for the season (Oh but they need all the teams for next year). I bet they sort of settled, FIA saying it's not technically illegal but you know it breaks the intent of the rules, we could kick you out, take a 9 points penalty and move on... It's always a disgruntled employee that lets the cat out of the bag ;-)

Official statement from Renault (who had until today to appeal):

We regret the Stewards' decision and, in particular, the severity of the sanction applied. In our opinion, the penalty is not proportionate to any benefit the drivers derived, especially when used within the context of a system confirmed fully legal and innovative. It is also inconsistent with previous sanctions for similar breaches, as acknowledged by the Stewards in their decision, but expressed without further argumentation.

However, since we have no new evidence to bring other than that already produced to demonstrate the legality of our system, we do not wish to invest further time and effort in a sterile debate in front of the International Court of Appeal concerning the subjective appreciation, and therefore sanction, related to an aid that reduces the driver workload without enhancing the performance of the car.

We have therefore decided not to appeal the Stewards’ decision.

Formula One will always be an arena for the relentless search for the slightest possible opportunities for competitive advantage. It is what we have always done and will continue to do, albeit with stronger internal processes before innovative solutions are brought on track.

(unsaid: also, next time those F$$#%s at Sport Pesa or whatever they're called need a vote for a less ridiculous name, they can stick it up their Pesa ;-)

Back in the day, I didn't care much for hambone. Figured he was kind of a doooosh.
but with the constant handlers and filters making him behave like a gentleman, that opinion softened. But he stepped in it, his handlers took a day off and his true self came out and he is a doooosh. Prolly drinking again and now he;s trying to walk it back.
Luckily we still have Alonso to put him in his place.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-hamilton-responds-to-backlash-over-vegan-comments/

IOW, do as I SAY but not as I DO

He's the best driver around, maybe as good as Shumi and that is saying a lot.
But IMO he's a

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1571942132.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1571942132.jpg

Quick and dirty translation from Renault's manager C Abiteboul re: the penalty and the incriminated brake balance system... thought it interesting...


Abiteboul was talking to the french press and admitted that the system incriminated by "ex-force India Racing Point Sport Pesa" was giving a "very small level of assistance to the drivers", in the sense that it reduced the workload slightly but in no way made the car any faster. He regrets the lack of clarity of the rule on that point..

« it was a real satisfaction to demonstrate that our system was legal per the rules. That was also our feeling when we read the extremely comprehensive technical documents supplied by Racing point, but they misunderstood how the system works".

"Bottom line is the driver has 2 less pushes of a toggle to do per lap. I'll let you decide, based on the amount of settings they must change on the wheel per lap, given their level of experience, if that really is something that would make the car faster or not."

"We are technically legal in how we approached this, but it seems we are not following the spirit of Article 27.1 which is completely obsolete in a modern F1. . I say that because there are many driver help systems in that grey area, and nothing in there clearly states which ones are allowed and disallowed. We talk about that with many other teams all the time. Take the example of the KERS deployment over a lap. Technically it constitutes a huge driver help, but nothing formally specifies if you are or aren't allowed to do that automatically. Yet it is tacitly allowed right now. Same with our system, we thought. Automatic KERS deployment is a huge driver help, if it was not automated, that would require a lot of driver management. So again this all a subjective grey area, and if we appealed this, we were gonna fight over subjective points of views and frankly we didn't want to open that can of worms."

Abiteboul also heavily criticized the way Racing point approched this using an ex-renault employee.

« That's really unusual, generally {if you suspect something is off] you ask the FIA for clarification and for a technical bulletin, outside of the race week end. This happens all the time between teams. This time they broke with tradition and prepared a 12 page dossier that was ready weeks ago, and waited for the right opportunity to use it, when disqualifying us would allow them to score more points ».

Think he perfectly summed up Racing Points angle of attack, they had a loaded gun and waited for the right time to use it. All part of the game when millions and championship positions are at stake

Rumour is Renault are considering leaving F1 so the FIA were never going to punish them severely

I've been on the receiving end of a trivial rule clarification, a rival team we were fighting with asked the FIA for a clarification of a radio aerial I'd positioned in a 'no bodywork' zone. Wasn't done for performance but was a neatly package position for it. I hadn't broken any rules as an aerial isn't bodywork but the clarification caused me to have to move it which wasn't a 5 min job.

The championship is fought off the track as hard it is on the track so this distraction took me away from adding performance to our car. Exactly the result our rival wanted.

At another team one of my main jobs was to look in detail at 1000's of spy photo's of competitors cars to keep an eye on everyone. Really interesting job, thoroughly enjoy it, learnt a huge amount F1 cars and 'stuff' I found caused a few rule clarifications to be asked too

I shall look upon Racing Point, or whatever they call themselves next week, a lot less favorably now.

Yeah, I get the ruthless nature of the sport, but that's one of the reasons I don't like it much anymore.

Given that a name change requires unanimous approval, I promise you that as long as Renault is in the sport, their name shall remain "Racing point sport pesa" or whatever ;-) Forever and ever.

Rumor has it an ex- Renault person that recently joined Racing Point grassed, no one likes a grass, secrecy is everything in F1, it's part of a teams competitive advantage and my approach to it will hopefully help keep me in the game

Was once asked when starting at a new team if 'I knew anything sensitive about the team I'd just left that could help my new team'. My answer was a firm 'Yes, but if I told you would you trust me to keep your secrets?'. They said 'No!' I replied 'Well lets not go there then!' End of conversation ;)

Very pleased to find out my new team trusted me enough to allow me to work right up to my last day in the office. Everyone designer before me were escorted off site immediately after they handed their notice in :cool:

By the end of this championship I'll have worked in F1 for 20 years :eek:, I'm booked up for my 21st year and was a whisker away from celebrating this milestone by working for two different F1 teams at the same time. Would have been a very interesting year for me but sadly it won't happen :( as I chose to respect my existing clients right to secrecy

That’s what chaps me about the whole deal, somebody ratted them out and then the team waited until it would do the most damage before springing the protest.

Not cool.

I hope no other team will hire that guy in the future and I will no longer wish to for that team to have any sort of success.

In the past you wished that the rich kid's dad's team had any success at all?!

"I have that Force India, or whatever the f ck it's called..."
-K. Raikonnen, Monaco 2019

Congratulations to the winner , how he made his tires last 60 laps is amazing .

Yawn, the announcers kept promising a four way epic battle at the end....