Racing Point Protest Result : FIA gives verdict in favor of Renault; 15 points deducted from Racing Point

Racing Point Protest Result: FIA has judged the design of the RP20 to be ‘illegal’, and has fined them 15 championship points for this season.

The much-awaited and talked about verdict of Racing Point’s legality has been announced by the FIA. It has upheld Renault’s multiple protests after the Styrian, Hungarian and British Grands Prix. The French team’s protests were about the legality and design of Racing Point’s RP20 cars this season.

This has huge consequences for Racing Point for this season, and potentially beyond. They have been fined 15 world championship points from this season’s tally. It has been suggested that 7.5 points have been deducted from each RP20 used in the Styrian Grand Prix. Apart from this, a fine of €400,000 has also been imposed on the Silverstone-based outfit.

Racing Point using Brake Ducts

The issue came into light after Renault twice protested against the use of brake ducts by Racing Point, which were allegedly bought from Mercedes. A third protest was also lodged after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Racing Point, on their part, maintained their stance of not doing anything illegal. They made it clear that their car RP20 was built taking ‘inspiration’ from pictures of Mercedes’ 2019 car.  Racing Point had put this out in an official statement, in response to Renault’s protest.

“Prior to the start of the season, the team co-operated with the FIA and satisfactorily addressed all questions regarding the origins of the designs of the RP20.”

FIA, while penalizing Racing Point for the use of ‘illegally obtained’ brake ducts in the Styrian Grand Prix, only reprimanded the British team for using it in the Hungarian and British Grands Prix.

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