Half of the Formula 1 grid have lodged an intention to appeal the decision issued to Racing Point by stewards over the team’s breach of the Sporting Regulations.
Stewards handed out their verdict on Renault’s protest of the RP20 on Friday morning and while its brake ducts were found to be legal under the Technical Regulations the team was deemed to have flouted the Sporting Regulations.
Stewards issued Racing Point with a 15-point Constructors’ Championship deduction, a €400,000 fine, along with a reprimand.
The panel explained that the penalty was in line with the breach of regulations while they were permitted to continue running the contentious component throughout the 2020 season.
Under Formula 1’s system parties had 24 hours to notify their intention to appeal and this has now been done by Racing Point, Renault, Ferrari, McLaren and Williams.
No further information has been provided regarding their individual intentions, however it is understood that Racing Point is appealing the level of sanction while its opponents believe that the penalty handed out is insufficient.
The teams also want clarification on what is permitted under Formula 1’s regulations, amid increased scrutiny over sharing components, and the relationship between several teams.
They now have 96 hours to decide whether they intend to follow through with a formal appeal.
Should they do so then this will be taken to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal.
Several team bosses were unhappy with the ruling that was handed out on Friday.
“My initial reactions are that Racing Point has been found guilty and I am concerned that they still have those… what were deemed illegal in Austria on the race car now,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
“I think that is confusing for the fans, how something that is not legal in Austria is still on the car.”
Claire Williams, deputy team boss at Williams, added that “Obviously it is a very long document that the FIA have sent out and it is within the FIA’s jurisdiction power to determine what penalties are imposed for any breach of sporting or technical regulations and they have done that.
“Whether I agree personally, or the team, that the reprimand is appropriate or the sanctions that they put in place are appropriate I’ll bite my tongue on that.”
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto echoed Brown’s comments.
“We believe that there may be a breach of regulations in what is that process but probably at the moment, looking ahead and looking forward, it’s something on which we need to clarify,” he said.
“I don’t think that the verdict is sufficient because again it’s only relative, eventually, to the brake ducts but not the entire concept so as Zak said, I think it’s only the… it’s like an iceberg, at the moment it’s only the tip of the iceberg. There is much to discuss further.”
