Racing Point docked 15 F1 points after Renault wins protest

Racing Point has been docked 15 Formula 1 world championship constructors’ points and fined €400,000 euros after a protest against its brake ducts was upheld. 

Renault lodged three consecutive protests against the much-contested design of the Racing Point’s RP20 challenger after the Styrian, Hungarian and British Grands Prix and ultimately won its case.

The French manufacturer’s protest alleged that the RP20’s front and rear-brake ducts were a breach of the regulations which stipulate that teams must design their own parts and had been a direct copy of the components used on the Mercedes’ 2019 car.

Racing Point had always insisted its 2020 car complied with the regulations technical director Andrew Green stressed at the British Grand Prix that the team had a “very strong case” to prove so.

But the stewards investigating the matter discovered that Racing Point had in fact used listed parts brake ducts that were “not designed” by the Silverstone-based outfit.

As a result, Racing Point has been hit with a €200,000 fine per use of each car during the Styrian Grand Prix, and the team has also lost 7.5 points for each car, equating to a total of 15 constructors’ championship points.

Racing Point received reprimands for using the brake ducts on the RP20 at the following races in Hungary and Great Britain.

“As the details of the offense are the same in each case, the rationale is the same for all protest decisions,” an FIA statement read.

"With regard to the penalty, it is the view of the Stewards that the penalty rendered at the Styrian Grand Prix was proportionate for the violation of the design process which led to the breach of regulations and a further penalty of reprimand is sufficient for the Hungarian and the British Grands Prix.”

The 15-point penalty means Racing Point will drop from 42 points to 27, moving it down to sixth place in the constructors’ championship behind Renault.

Crucially, however, Racing Point has been found guilty of flouting a sporting regulation and not a techical regulation, meaning it avoided disqualification. The rear brake ducts used by Racing Point were also found to be compliant with the regulations and the team will therefore not have to redesign them.

It is unlikely that the stewards verdict will be the end of the matter, with Racing Point holding the right to appeal the decision, while Renault could continue to lodge a further protest at this weekend’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone.