Renault’s latest F1 protest deemed “identical” to Austria

The Hungarian Grand Prix stewards have declared Renault’s latest protest against Racing Point’s Formula 1 cars to be “identical” to the one it lodged at the previous race in Austria.

Renault protested against Racing Point’s brake duct design following last weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix in Austria, and submitted a fresh protest after the third round in Hungary after being told its previous case was admissible.

But due to the protest being exactly the same as before, both teams have agreed that the ongoing investigation, which is expected to be heard during the break between the Hungarian Grand Prix and the British Grand Prix in two weeks’ time, will apply to both races.

Lance Stroll finished fourth with teammate Sergio Perez seventh, but as with the Styrian Grand Prix, Racing Point’s results will remain provisional.

“In order to facilitate the analysis process, RP has admitted that the relevant parts are targeted by these two protests and used during both, the race of the Styrian Grand Prix and the race of the 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix are the same,” a stewards notice read.

“Therefore, the parties declare and agree that there is no need to proceed again with a sealing and an impounding of the relevant parts of cars 11 and 18 following the race of the 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix.

“The parties further declare and agree that the analysis to be performed by the FIA Technical Department representative and the report to be submitted to the stewards as well as any evidences and discussions relating to the protest shall also be valid to address the second protest lodged by Renault following the race.”

Racing Point is fourth in the constructors’ championship, level of 40 points with McLaren, while Renault is 28 points behind.