Grosjean Disqualified From Italian Grand Prix

Romain Grosjean

FIA stewards have disqualified the Haas F-1 Team entry of Romain Grosjean from the Italian Grand Prix following a protest from Renault.

Grosjean originally finished sixth, allowing Haas to tie Renault for fourth in the constructors’ championship standings. However, shortly after the race ended Renault filed a protest over the legality of the Haas entry. The protest centered specifically on the floor of Grosjean’s car.

Following a hearing, race stewards announced that Haas had breached article 3.7.1 d of the Technical Regulations, which focuses on the radius of the leading corners of the floor’s reference plane.

In July, the FIA issued a Technical Directive clarifying the regulation and stipulated that teams must bring their cars into conformity before the Italian Grand Prix. However, it was revealed during the hearing that Haas had contacted the FIA asking for some flexibility because of the summer break and the two-week shutdown.

“While the Stewards are also sympathetic to the difficulties of producing these parts, the Stewards noted that at least one other competitor was able to comply in the time provided," the Stewards said in a statement. “Further, it was made clear to the competitor from the outset that the FIA Technical Department did not consider their car to be in compliance, and further that they left themselves open to the circumstances they now find. It was therefore the obligation of the competitor to be in compliance, which they did not do."

Thus, Grosjean was excluded from the results. Haas has decided to launch an appeal.

“We do not agree with the Stewards’ decision to penalize our race team and we feel strongly that our sixth-place finish in the Italian Grand Prix should stand," said Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner. “We are appealing the Stewards’ decision."