March 28, 2024

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The Ultimate Driving Machines

Racing Point docked 15 points and fined $470k over illegal brake ducts

SILVERSTONE, England — Racing Place was deducted fifteen factors in the Method 1 constructors’ championship and fined 400,000 euros ($470,000) Friday for applying brake ducts based on those people from final year’s Mercedes cars and trucks.

The stewards ruled that Mercedes was the “principal designer” of the areas, and that Racing Place designed only minor improvements to computer style and design knowledge it gained from Mercedes.

Rival team Renault submitted protests about the legality of the brake ducts, which ended up added to the “listed parts” underneath F1 rules for 2020. That usually means groups must style and design their possess. Racing Place argued it was basically applying data about the Mercedes areas to advise its possess style and design.

Brake ducts have become increasingly elaborate in new yrs as groups test to squeeze out each individual aerodynamic advantage they can locate from the cars and trucks.

Racing Place makes use of buyer engines from Mercedes and has admitted basing its 2020 vehicle style and design on images of final year’s Mercedes vehicle. The similarities led to the Racing Place staying nicknamed the “pink Mercedes” when it was to start with found in tests forward of the year.

Racing Place can appeal the ruling. The factors deduction drops the team from fifth to sixth in the standings, beneath Renault. The ruling does not affect the factors totals for Racing Point’s motorists.