Renault to race at Valencia after appeal

The team claimed at today's hearing in Paris that there was no conscious wrongdoing when Fernando Alonso was released from his first pitstop in the Hungarian Grand Prix before his right front wheel was properly attached.

It also argued that the only people who knew about the error were the mechanics working on that wheel, and that they were unable to inform any team personnel on the pitwall to warn Alonso before the wheel detached.

Renault conceded in the hearing that it had contravened the rules in releasing Alonso when it was unsafe, but asked that the one-race ban imposed by the race stewards be reconsidered.

The court upheld Renault's appeal and instead issued a reprimand and imposed a $50,000 fine.

An FIA statement said:

Renault admitted to the court that it breached the sporting regulations, in that it failed to ensure that car #7 complied with the conditions for safety throughout practice and the race, and that it released the car after a pitstop when it was unsafe to do so. However, it requested the court to reconsider the severity of the sanction imposed by the stewards.

Having heard the arguments of the parties, the court has decided as follows:
1. to allow the appeal and overturn the sanction imposed by the stewards in the contested decision;
2. to issue a reprimand and impose a fine of $50,000 upon Renault

It added that the full reasons for the decision will be released in the coming days.