Racetrackmasters

Renault racing team have announced their decision to withdraw an appeal against Racing point for copying Mercedes’ rear brake duct system on their RP20 car which were deemed illegal stating that “concrete progress in safeguarding originality in the sport” as their reason behind standing down. Race stewards docked Racing point 15 points and a further 400,000 euros fine for breaching sporting regulations since the season opener in Austria, however they were allowed to keep the offending parts on the car. Renault had joined Ferrari in protesting the stewards’ decision seeking stricter punishment against racing point. Ferrari is the only team chasing the matter after Mclaren and Williams overturned their own similar announcements but on the tuesday before Belgian grand prix, Renault announced they had requested to withdraw that appeal saying that “the controversy of the start of the season should be put behind us” “Renault confirms that it has requested to withdraw the appeals lodged against the stewards’ decisions in relation to BWT Racing Point F1 Team’s brake ducts,” “Beyond the decisions, the matters at issue were vital to the integrity of Formula One, both during the current season and in the future. However, intensive and constructive work between the FIA, Renault and all Formula 1 stakeholders has led to concrete progress in safeguarding the originality in the sport by way of amendments to the Sporting and Technical Regulations planned for the 2021 racing season, confirming the requirements to qualify as a Constructor. “Reaching this strategic objective, in the context of the new Concorde Agreement, was our priority. Ferrari are still in pursue of the appeal with Racing point lodging their own appeal against the same after Racing Point’s CEO and Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer having been unhappy about the severity of the punishment, and telling the media that Racing point “need to clear our name”.

Former Formula 1 world champion and Mclaren driver Jenson Button declared he was extremely shocked by Daniel Ricciardo’s move from Redbull to Renault. Ricciardo has been struggling to find success at Renault having over a season and a half without a podium finish at the french racing team. Jensen said he would have loved to have seen him in Redbull the last couple of years pushing Max Verstappen and it would have been a great battle to see. He also added that he was impressed at Ricciardo in Renault than what he ever did in Redbull because he (Ricciardo) was over his teammate (then Hulkenberg) in his first year. Now having seen what Hulkenberg can do in Racing point shows his strength and for Ricciardo to do the same would be very impressive. While Renault has been struggling during Ricciardo’s time there, Mclaren has made tremendous improvement having finished ninth in the 2017 season, went to fourth last season and the same they currently occupy in the constructor’s championship after six races and one podium. They will be hoping for greater success in 2021 with Ricciardo’s arrival coinciding with a return to mercedes engines. Jensen who is a former Mclaren driver said that this was a ‘make or break’ opportunity for Ricciardo adding that he was a young driver who has got to start moving towards a team that can give him race wins and possibly a championship.