Stewards at the Red Bull Ring have said that the protest from the Renault DP World F1 Team about the legality of the RP20 from the BWT Racing Point Formula One Team is ‘admissible’ and a final decision will be given once all the evidence has been gathered.
Renault announced their intention to dispute the RP10’s following the outcome of the Styrian Grand Prix on Sunday where Daniel Ricciardo finished eighth behind Racing Point duo Sergio Pérez and Lance Stroll.
The protest relates to Appendix 6 of the FIA sporting regulations, which relates to the use of listed parts, with the front and rear brake ducts of the RP20 being similar to those used by the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team in their 2019 W10.
“With regards to front and rear brake ducts used on cars 11 and 18, the Stewards summoned and heard from the team representatives of both teams and a representative of the FIA Technical Department,” read the FIA statement.
“The Stewards determined that the protest met all requirements specified in Article 13 of the FIA International Sporting Code and is, therefore, admissible.
“The FIA Technical Department representative was directed to seal and impound the relevant parts of cars 11 and 18 in preparation for conducting a detailed analysis of those pieces.
“The representative is further directed to provide a detailed report to the Stewards with the findings and to include an assessment that matches those findings against the alleged infringements outlined in the protest.
“The representative is authorised in the name of the Stewards to call upon such outside technical assistance, including representatives of the following teams:-Renault DP World F1 Team, BWT Racing Point F1 Team, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team – in the conduct of their assessment.
“Furthermore, the Stewards ordered the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team to provide the front and rear brake air ducts of the Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+ used by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team in the 2019 season to the FIA Technical Department for examination.
“When the likely submission date of the assessment can be determined, the FIA Technical Department representative will communicate that to the Chairman of the Stewards so that the next meeting to assess the claims can be scheduled.”
The brake ducts from last year’s Mercedes W10 and those used by Racing Point on the RP20 will now be inspected by the stewards.
