Renault stripped of points after disqualification from Japanese Grand Prix

MEXICO CITY — Renault will not appeal their Japanese Grand Prix disqualification for breaking the rules on driver aids, the Formula One team said on Thursday.

The governing FIA announced on Wednesday that Australian Daniel Ricciardo and German driver Nico Hulkenberg had been stripped of their nine points from the Oct. 13 race in Suzuka.

Renault had the right to appeal by a Thursday deadline at the Mexican Grand Prix.

“Since we have no new evidence to bring other than that already produced to demonstrate the legality of our system, we do not wish to invest further time and effort in a sterile debate in front of the International Court of Appeal,” the team said.

“We have therefore decided not to appeal the stewards’ decision.”

Ricciardo and Hulkenberg were classified sixth and 10th in Japan but rivals Racing Point protested against the brake bias system used by the French manufacturer.

The stewards concluded that the system “used innovative solutions to exploit certain ambiguities” and did not breach the technical regulations.

They found, however, that it acted as a driver aid and therefore contravened the sporting regulations.

“In our opinion, the penalty is not proportionate to any benefit the drivers derived, especially when used within the context of a system confirmed fully legal and innovative,” said Renault.

“It is also inconsistent with previous sanctions for similar breaches, as acknowledged by the stewards in their decision, but expressed without further argumentation.”

The disqualification lifted Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to sixth with Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly and Racing Point’s Sergio Perez now seventh and eighth.

Racing Point’s Lance Stroll is ninth and Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat 10th.

Renault stayed fifth overall but the gap between them and Toro Rosso has closed to six points from 18.