Renault escapes ban with $50,000 fine

Renault's Monday appeal has proven to be successful in Paris and the team will therefore be contesting this weekend's European Grand Prix. The French outfit has been issued with a US$50,000 (£30,600) fine, however, which adds to the sum of €6,000 (£5,200) which was requested to summit the appeal.

With F1 governing body the FIA having suspended the team from the race in Valencia, reasons for the decision were pointed out in Monday's hearing at the FIA International Court of Appeal (ICA) in the French capital.

The FIA explained how Fernando Alonso's car had been sent out of the pit lane at the last race in Hungary despite team members being aware of a loose wheel which eventually came away and risked injury to track workers and spectators as well as the driver.

The team, on the other hand, stressed that only two pit mechanics were aware of the problem and that sufficient time was not available to relay the message back to the driver via the pit wall.

Having heard the views of both parties, the court released its decision earlier than expected, in the late afternoon of Monday. A subsequent Monday evening statement from Renault reads:

'The ING Renault F1 Team welcomes the decision of the FIA's International Court of Appeal to lift the team's suspension from the European Grand Prix. However, the team acknowledges that sporting regulations were breached during the incident in the pit lane of the Hungarian Grand Prix, which compromised safety. The team therefore accepts that the decision of the FIA to issue a reprimand and a $50,000 fine is fair and balanced. The ING Renault F1 Team now looks forward to concentrating on preparations for racing this weekend in Valencia.'

Source: GP Update