FIA suspends Renault from next F1 race
FIA suspends Renault from next F1 race
FIA suspends Renault from next F1 race
July 26, 2009
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) -Renault has been suspended from the upcoming European Grand Prix after the latest in a string of safety mishaps to hit Formula One.
Renault was disciplined after Fernando Alonso's right front wheel came off his car and bounced wildly down the track as the pole-sitter rounded turn No. 9 during the 13th lap of Sunday's Hungarian GP.
The incident came one day after safety was called into question when Felipe Massa of Ferrari was struck in the helmet by a stray part from another car and he slammed into a protective tire barrier at high speed during qualifying.
The Brazilian had surgery on multiple skull fractures and remained hospitalized in ``life-threatening'' but stable condition.
``We have phenomenal safety in Formula One, and yesterday was just incredibly freakish that that type of material could have been bouncing around and then bouncing at head height and then Felipe was coming, so very freakish that it should happen,'' Red Bull driver Mark Webber said. ``The FIA did a good job at the scene. We don't want to get too carried away with it.''
Governing body FIA said it would review Massa's crash since it was normal procedure, while several drivers and team principals called for safety measures to be re-examined.
Massa's accident happened six days after F2 driver Henry Surtees, son of former F1 champion John Surtees, died in a crash caused by a loose tire at Brands Hatch.
In Sunday's incident, FIA said Renault had been ``suspended from the next event in the Formula One'' championship for failing to advise the two-time world champion that a wheel nut was not properly secured.
FIA made the decision after reviewing film and radio recordings of the race, which was won by Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.
Renault formally appealed the penalty on Sunday. It now has 48 hours to lodge the appeal and eight days to present the grounds of appeal.
FIA said that that Renault released Alonso knowing the wheel nut was vulnerable and ``being aware of this failed to take any action to prevent the car from leaving the pit-lane. (Renault) failed to inform the driver of this problem or advise him to take appropriate action given the circumstances.''
FIA said that radio transmissions demonstrated that Alonso had contacted the team relaying concern that he had a ``tire puncture.''
``When I left the pits there was a lot of vibration and it felt like I had a puncture, but then a few corners later the wheel flew off my car,'' Alonso said after the race. ``Today, we missed an opportunity to finish on the podium.''
Though no F1 driver has died on track since former champion Ayrton Senna crashed at Imola 15 years ago, drivers are well aware of the ever-present dangers.
``As long as we race with open cockpits, our heads are always in the worst place and the first place that's going to be hit if there's something flying around,'' said Kimi Raikkonen, Massa's teammate. ``This is a part of racing and we all know that. It's just a sad thing to happen.''
