Ferrari become final team to drop appeal over Racing Point penalty

2020 F1 season

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The final appeal against Racing Point’s penalty for copying Mercedes brake ducts has been withdrawn, bringing the row to a close.

Ferrari has confirmed it will not pursue its appeal against the fine and points deduction the stewards issued the team at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

Racing Point were found to have broken F1’s rules through their use of Mercedes’ rear brake ducts when designing their RP20. Ferrari and Renault originally appealed against the decision, seeking a tougher sanction, while Racing Point issued an appeal in a bid to have the verdict overturned.

However Ferrari has now joined Renault and Racing Point in withdrawing their appeal. The team said it is satisfied with the steps the FIA is taking to prevent teams ‘reverse engineering’ rivals’ designs, as RaceFans revealed earlier today.

F1 teams agree new rules to ban “reverse engineering” in 2021
The team said in a statement it “has notified the International Court of Appeal of its decision to withdraw the appeal filed with the case ICA-2020-01-02-03-04.

“In recent weeks, the collaboration between FIA, Formula 1 and the teams has produced a series of acts – amendments to the 2021 Technical and Sporting Regulations, approved by the F1 Commission and the FIA World Motor Sport Council, and Technical Directives – 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.

“Scuderia Ferrari expresses its appreciation for the timeliness with which the FIA and Formula 1 have effectively tackled a fundamental aspect of the DNA of this highly competitive sport.”

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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8 comments on “Ferrari become final team to drop appeal over Racing Point penalty”

  1. Great! We can all move on with our lives now.

  2. I guess they too have realised it’s all just chasing the wind

  3. Now what to do about Ferraris lack of performance?

    1. @johnrkh

      Well, the party mode ban didn’t work. Need to think up something else.

      Wait! I’ve got an idea! Let’s give them more money than any other team and allow them to veto rules they don’t like.

      1. You need to let them use last years’ engine!

  4. That must have been the shortest negotiation in F1 history:

    – Binotto: Hey, those guys are racing illegal cars. They deserve serious punishment!
    – Carey: Blimey, Mattia, you’re right. What about we hand serious punishments to ALL the teams that have been racing illegal cars recently?
    – Binotto: Actually, you know what? No need to get too touchy about a little illegallity here or there. Care for some ravioli, Chasey?

    1. Ahaha, that’s a good one!

  5. You need to let them use last years’ engine!

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