Renault set for Paris hearing

Renault will seek to overturn their one-race suspension at an ICA hearing at the FIA headquarters in Paris on August 17.

Renault face the prospect of not competing in the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23 after Fernando Alonso's car shed a tyre during the race in Hungary on Sunday.

After the race the panel of three stewards studied available film footage and radio recordings, and determined that:

* the competitor knowingly released car No.7 (Alonso) from the pit-stop 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.

* being aware of this, failed to take any action to prevent the car from leaving the pit lane.

* 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.

* this resulted in a heavy car part (wheel trim) detaching at turn five, and the wheel itself detaching at turn nine.

The stewards found Renault to be in breach of two specific articles of the FIA Sporting Regulations:

(i) Competitors must ensure their cars comply with the conditions of eligibility and safety throughout practice and the race.

(ii) It is the responsibility of the competitor to release his car after a pit stop only when it is safe to do so.

In light of Henry Surtees being killed by a flying wheel and Felipe Massa's crash that left him fighting for his life after being hit by stray debris, the race stewards at the Hungaroring took a dim view of the incident and imposed a one-race suspension.

As any potential ban applies to the entire team, it would mean the loss of double world champion Alonso from one of his home grands prix.

Renault set for Paris hearing | espnstar.com