[DYjLN8rF]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77354


By Jonathan Noble Sunday, July 26th 2009, 16:39 GMT

Renault has been suspended from the European Grand Prix for the events that led to a wheel coming off Fernando Alonso's car in Hungary today.

Following a post-race discussion with the stewards, it was deemed that the team had breached the regulations enough for it to be suspended from the next event.

It means Alonso will miss his home event that takes place in Valencia next month, unless he moves to another team.

More to follow

[neguoogleX]

It's right that Renault should be penalised, but in my opinion that's an over-reaction. A hefty fine of the loss of some constructors' points would have been more appropriate.

[DYjLN8rF]

This seems like a CRAZY and DISPROPORTIONATE punishment for the team for the stray wheel.

Alonso to miss his home GP in Valencia then.......or will he be 'loaned' to Ferrari in place of Massa?????

Wow!

[Emedgella]

these guys are acting like a bafoon who finally got a job as a parking lot attendant. The only good side would be to release Alonso to drive for Ferrari that weekend.

[RenyBontes]

WHAT!!!

While I am a screamer about race safety, the fact is he should have been black flagged off the track; nevertheless, running around with missing wheels (like MS at Spa), getting yanked from gravel or driving with bad tires, or flapping exhausts, etc, is a long cherished f1 tradition.

A big fine perhaps.
More strict rules and immediate enforcement perhaps.

OTOH if they banned them because the "thong boy" left early, that would be very okay with me

[smirnoffdear]

Well if what the stewards say is correct then Renault should be punished but to suspend them from the next grand prix is completely over reacting, a fine and points deduction would be more suitable.

[uniopaypamp]

what renault and fernando did was very stupid in the situation, and in the surrounding circumstances very dangerous, but a suspension is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!

that is major over reaction, I know it was very dangerous but a fine or something would do, IM sure they would have learned their lesson that way, but not this. ridiculous.

[annouhMus]

Totally, totally ridiculous — in fact, the most unjustified and unfair punishment I can recall in recent F1 times — if true.

[Xlkl9SFd]

Well, at least we now know that if a wheels flies off a car, they will be banned from the next race......

Consistency,....ah there's a novel word!

[Fertassa]

Totally idiotic.

[CathBraun]

Madness. Recent events are disturbing, but this has happened many times in F1 before. I thought Alonso dealt with it well. Why should he be punished for someone else's mistake?

[zlopikanikanza]

WTF. Is it april 1st and I missed the memo? Wheels do sometimes go walk abouts, this is just an over reaction to Massa and Surtees accidents in recent days. Hopefully there will be an attack of common sense and this pointless decision can be reversed (or at least suspended)

[uniopaypamp]

Consistency,....ah there's a novel word!

maybe it would help if we enlightened the FIA upon this word?

[neguoogleX]

Reading the now-updated version of the Autosport article, it appears that Renault may have know that the wheel wasn't secure when they chose to release Alonso then failed to warn him or take action.

The statement said that Renault "knowingly released car no. 7 from the pitstop position without one of the retaining devices for the wheel-nuts being securely in position, this being an indication that the wheel itself may not have been properly secured."

It added that Renault, "being aware of this, failed to take any action to prevent the car from leaving the pitlane....failed to inform the driver of this problem or to advise him to take appropriate action given the circumstances, even though the driver contacted the team by radio believing he had a puncture." Should that be the case then the penalty makes more sense. You don't release a driver knowing his car may be unsafe

[CathBraun]

It looked to me that they released him before the front-right mechanic was ready. However they may not have had time to realise this before he had left the box.

[uniopaypamp]

Reading the now-updated version of the Autosport article, it appears that Renault may have know that the wheel wasn't secure when they chose to release Alonso then failed to warn him or take action.



Should that be the case then the penalty makes more sense. You don't release a driver knowing his car may be unsafe

so they let him go knowing that the car maybe unsafe? well then the penalty does make more sense. if they hadn't of realised till say turn 2 or something, then this penalty would have been ridiculous.

with that, some sanity is there somewhere with the penalty.

[neguoogleX]

It looked to me that they released him before the front-right mechanic was ready. However they may not have had time to realise this before he had left the box.

That would be an unfortunate mistake, nothing more. However the statement suggests that armed with this knowledge they failed to act, and failed to inform one of the most experienced drivers of the true nature of his problem. That's not a mistake, that borders on negligence.

[Markdogas]

Totally over the top IMO, sure a fine would be more appropiate.

Its just robbing the fan's of an already small grid. If I was Spanish and attending the next race, I would be asking for my money back..

[CathBraun]

That would be an unfortunate mistake, nothing more. However the statement suggests that armed with this knowledge they failed to act, and failed to inform one of the most experienced drivers of the true nature of his problem. That's not a mistake, that borders on negligence.

True, because in the end he had to find out for himself, which could have been very dangerous.

[Fertassa]

Totally over the top IMO, sure a fine would be more appropiate.

Its just robbing the fan's of an already small grid. If I was Spanish and attending the next race, I would be asking for my money back..

Me too...