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F1: Norbert Haug points a glancing jibe at the Court of Appeal

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

It emerged on Wednesday that four rival teams backed Renault in the form of written letters at the Court of Appeal hearing earlier this week.

Having overturned the French team's Valencia race ban, the FIA published the full reasons for the judges' decision, in which it was revealed that Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Toyota wrote letters of support.

In the ruling, the Court said it accepted that "there was no conscious wrongdoing on the part of anyone" in the incident involving Fernando Alonso's loose wheel in Hungary.

The judges said the stewards' claim at the Hungaroring that Renault "knowingly" released the Spaniard's unsafe car was "not appropriate".

Renault argued in Paris on Monday that the only person who decided to release Alonso's car was chief mechanic Gavin Hudson, and the Court accepted that he "was not aware of the potential danger".

The Court described some of Renault's pit lane procedures as "flawed" but said the decisions and actions in Hungary were "taken in good faith".

Mercedes-Benz’ Norbert Haug (photo) said he is happy Renault will race this weekend, but pointed a glancing jibe at the Court of Appeal.

With the so-called spy and lie-gate affairs still fresh in his memory, the Mercedes boss noted the Court's decision.

"It's good to see that a harsh punishment is sometimes reversed. I would like to know what that's like," he said jovially during a teleconference with German media.


photo:WRI2
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
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