Renault Excluded from the European Grand Prix

Renault F1 have been banned by the International Automobile Federation for the upcoming European Grand Prix at Valencia. The Enstone based team have been found guilty of knowingly allowing Fernando Alonso to rejoin the track after his first pit stop with a loose wheel nut.

This error made by the Spaniard's pit crew resulted in the R29 suffering a tire blow after only a few corners back on track. That was the smallest of Alonso's problems, however, as the right-hand front tire of his car fell seconds away, becoming airborne around the Hungarian track. Happily for Renault and the Hungarian organizers, the incident did not result in any victims.

Shortly after the race, the Renault representatives were summoned by the stewards to the race control center. While investigating the incident, the FIA officials found Renault guilty of letting Alonso go with a loose wheel nut, while also failing to inform their driver of what had occured during his pit stop.

“This resulted in a heavy car part (the aerodynamic wheel cover) detaching ... and the wheel itself detaching at turn 9,” added the report from the stewards, as reported by the GMM news agency.

However, the reports clearly reminds the Enstone representatives that they do have the right to appeal to this decision in due time. Something that Renault have already thought about, as team manager Steve Nielsen has already proceeded in sending the Budapest stewards a letter in which the team “formally files notification of its intention to appeal”.

Renault F1 have already paid the additional 6,000 euros appeal fee.