Renault will appeal on August 18

The FIA announced that the Court of Appeal will hear Renault’s appeal against its suspension from the European Grand Prix on August 17.

The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in Paris, and the verdict is expected to be announced in the afternoon of August 18.

The Renault team was penalized after the race because they released Fernando Alonso from a pit stop with a missing wheel nut. The result was clear as the affected wheel came off the Spaniard’s car and ended up in the tire barriers. The manufacturer is accused of not taking any action to stop the car.

The FIA also found that Fernando Alonso was not informed of the problem and that no one asked him to stop.

The stewards concluded that Renault violated Article 3.2 of the F1 Sporting Regulations, which emphasizes that « competitors must ensure that their cars meet safety conditions. »

Renault was also found in violation of Article 23.1, which requires that the cars be released from the pits only when they are 100% safe.

If Renault wins on appeal, it will be allowed to participate in the European Grand Prix on August 23. It is also important to specify that the teams’ trucks and convoy always move a week before the Grand Prix. In this specific case, the ING Renault F1 Team convoy should be on its way to Valencia by the time the judges decide. Therefore, it is highly likely that if there is a sanction, it will only be applicable for the following Grand Prix.