Formula 1: Renault disqualified from Japanese Grand Prix

Renault have been disqualified from the results of the Japanese Grand Prix after a protest lodged by Racing Point was upheld by Formula 1.

Roughly a week and a half after the Japanese Grand Prix, the 17th race of 21-race 2019 Formula 1 season, two of the top 10 finishers have been disqualified.

Following this 52-lap race, which was shortened due to a system glitch that led to the checkered flag being displayed one lap early, around the 18-turn, 3.609-mile (5.808-kilometer) Suzuka Circuit road course in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan, SportPesa Racing Point lodged a protest again Renault.

According to Formula 1, Racing Point’s complaint “regarded an alleged breach of the Sporting and Technical Regulations and the FIA International Sporting Code, relating to a ‘pre-set, automated brake bias system’.”

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They claimed that onboard camera footage revealed the brake balance display on the steering wheels of the Renault drivers changing without driver input. Renault disputed this claim, and

Renault disputed the claim. After FIA stewards examined both the FIA standard electronic control units and the steering wheels which were used by Renault drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg, sealed and impounded after the race concluded, they determined that the described control system was not preset nor lap distance-dependent, and they also discovered that while Renault’s system was not in breach of Formula 1’s Technical Regulations even though they used “innovative solutions to exploit certain ambiguities”.

However, amid the investigation, Renault were found to have breached Formula 1’s Sporting Regulations as they pertain to driver aids. Per the rules, a driver must drive the car alone and unaided. Renault’s system saved their drivers from making a number of adjustments over the course of a lap.

Ricciardo originally finished the race in sixth place and scored eight points while Hulkenberg originally finished in 10th and scored one. They were both reclassified as disqualified, with Ricciardo unofficially in 19th and Hulkenberg unofficially in 20th.

Ricciardo crossed the finish line in seventh place but was promoted to sixth after Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was penalized and demoted from sixth to seventh. As a result of Renault’s disqualification, Leclerc was promoted back to sixth with eight points as opposed to six.

From eighth and ninth place with four points and two points, Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly and Racing Point’s Sergio Perez we’re promoted to seventh and eighth with six and four, respectively. From outside of the points in 11th and 12th, Racing Point’s Lance Stroll and Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat were promoted to ninth and 10th with two points and one point, respectively.

Here are the updated results of the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit.

Race Results
1st – Valtteri Bottas
2nd – Sebastian Vettel
3rd – Lewis Hamilton
4th – Alexander Albon
5th – Carlos Sainz Jr.
6th – Charles Leclerc
7th – Pierre Gasly
8th – Sergio Perez
9th – Lance Stroll
10th – Daniil Kvyat
11th – Lando Norris
12th – Kimi Raikkonen
13th – Romain Grosjean
14th – Antonio Giovinazzi
15th – Kevin Magnussen
16th – George Russell
17th – Robert Kubica
18th – Max Verstappen
19th – Daniel Ricciardo
20th – Nico Hulkenberg

The driver standings and the constructor standings have also been updated.

Renault have the right to appeal this disqualification.

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Formula 1 action is scheduled to resume this Sunday, October 27 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico with the Mexican Grand Prix, which is set to be broadcast live on ABC beginning at 3:05 p.m. ET.

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