The controversy surrounding Racing Point’s 2020 car is officially over after Ferrari dropped their appeal on Sunday.
Last month, the Silverstone-based outfit was docked 15 Constructors’ points and fined 400k Euros as the stewards ruled the rear brake ducts breached the regulations on listed parts.
However, the whole situation has been about something much bigger, this being a team’s ability to completely copy the design of another car, with the Racing Point dubbed a ‘Pink Mercedes’ due to its likeness to last year’s W10.
As a result, five teams initially lodged intentions to appeal the FIA’s ruling with three, Renault, Racing Point and Ferrari, eventually proceeding.
Prior to the Belgian Grand Prix, however, Renault, who began the whole saga by protesting at the Styrian, Hungarian and British GP’s, withdrew and then in the space of 24 hours on Sunday, the other two teams followed suit.
Also Read:
- Ferrari still unhappy as Racing Point withdraws appeal over listed parts penalty
- Red Bull would bring ‘four identical cars’ in 2021 if Racing Point model approved
- Racing Point: ‘If we were 14th or 15th, no one would be protesting’
For Racing Point, their reason was a level of satisfaction that the regulation breaches they were charged with were ruled not intentional, while Ferrari and Renault are satisfied F1’s governing body will adopt changes to prevent ‘copycat’ cars in the future.
“In recent weeks, the collaboration between FIA, F1 and the teams has produced a series of acts – amendments to the 2021 technical and sporting regulations – which clarify the responsibilities of each championship participant in the design of the components of a single-seater and implement specific monitoring procedures to ensure that both the letter and the spirit of the regulations are fully respected,” the Scuderia said in a statement.
“Scuderia Ferrari expresses its appreciation for the timeliness with which the FIA and F1 have effectively tackled a fundamental aspect of the DNA of this highly competitive sport.”
Currently, Racing Point sits fourth in the Constructors’ standings, 16 points behind McLaren and nine ahead of Renault.