Formula 1: Haas lose Romain Grosjean Italian Grand Prix appeal
By Asher Fair
Haas have lost their appeal over the disqualification of Romain Grosjean from the 14th race of the 2018 Formula 1 season, the Italian Grand Prix.
Two months after appealing the disqualification of Romain Grosjean from the 14th race of the 21-race 2018 Formula 1 season, the Italian Grand Prix, Haas have officially lost their appeal to reinstate the result of the 32-year-old Frenchman in that race.
Grosjean originally finished the 53-lap race around the 11-turn, 3.600-mile (5.793-kilometer) Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Monza, Italy in sixth place, which originally earned him eight points.
However, Grosjean was stripped of his sixth place finish in this race, which would have made him the “best of the rest” as the top non-Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Scuderia Ferrari or Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver.
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This sixth place finish was stripped from Grosjean after Renault Sport, a team that have been battling with Haas as the “best of the rest” behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing in the constructor standings throughout the season, filed a protest that led to the Formula 1 stewards deeming that the floor of Grosjean’s Ferrari-powered car did not comply with the rules.
Haas almost immediately appealed the penalty, but it has now been revealed that this appeal was not successful. Here is what Haas team boss Guenther Steiner had to say about the matter, according to ESPN.
"“Obviously we are disappointed not to have won our appeal. We simply move forward and look to the final two races of the year to continue to fight on track, earn more points, and conclude our strongest season to-date in Formula One.”"
Here is what Renault technical director Nick Chester had to say about the matter, according to ESPN.
"“Technical Regulations — especially those introduced for safety reasons — must be observed strictly. We are satisfied with the decision and I would like to thank the court and the FIA for their work on this matter. The team is now focused on the end of the season.”"
Grosjean currently sits in 13th place in the driver standings with 31 points. He trails 12th place Carlos Sainz Jr., who drives for Renault, by 14 points. Renault’s other driver, Nico Hulkenberg, is the “best of the rest” by a comfortable 12-point margin in seventh place with 69 points over Racing Point Force India’s Sergio Perez, who sits in eighth with 57.
Haas currently sit in fifth place in the constructor standings with 84 points. They trail fourth place Renault, the “best of the rest”, by 30 points, and they lead sixth place McLaren by 22 points. Force India sit in seventh with 47 points, but they accumulated 59 additional points before their point total was reset earlier this year following the new purchase of the team and the change of the team’s name from Sahara Force India to Racing Point Force India.
The next race on the 2018 Formula 1 schedule is the Brazilian Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 11. The live broadcast of this race from Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo, Brazil is set to begin at 12:10 p.m. ET on ABC.