Force India, Renault defer on time penalty
abu dhabi — Just when you thought the dust had settled on Yas Marina Circuit, a controversy has surfaced in Abu Dhabi, which could set precedent for future seasons.
Force India finished the year at 187 points with Sergio Perez (100) and Esteban Ocon (87), improving on last season’s tally by 14 points, thus making it their best-ever outing. The UK-based team, however, claimed the figure could have been much, much better. Force India blamed Renault and Formula One stewards for ruining their season-ending party.
Perez was driving in sixth place when Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg ran off-track and gained an unfair advantage. Stewards handed a five-second time penalty, which Hulkenberg served in the pits.
Hulkenberg, though, maintained enough gap to remain ahead of Perez and a sixth-place finish helped Renault (57) pip Toro Rosso (53) in the Constructor standings. Toro Rosso drivers Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly finishing without points also helped Renault’s case.
A fuming Perez complained on the radio that Hulkenberg should have been made to give back the position.
After the race, Perez didn’t mince words.
“It wasn’t the most exciting race for me. I had a very busy first lap battling with Nico (Hulkenberg). I think his penalty was very strange because I was ahead of
14 By which Force India improved on their points tally from last season
him and he just cut the corner, gaining a big advantage and a position. He had more pace and in clean air he could just go and make up enough time to make the penalty useless. He should have just given up the position, as is required and as he did later in the race with Romain Grosjean, and he would have had to overtake me on track,” Perez said.
Force India’s chief operating officer Otmar Szafneuer too slammed the time penalty.
“It just makes a mockery of the sport to have it so inconsistent. Hulkenberg cuts a corner, the FIA don’t do anything about it and guess what? They gain a place in the Constructors’ championship, which means more money and more competitiveness next year,” he told Sky Sports television. “It’s not great... it’s just the inconsistency’s not great,” he added.
However, Renault Sport F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul and Hulkenberg felt the time penalty was a fair call.
“There was a penalty decided, we served the penalty,” Abiteboul said.
He added the sixth place finish was ‘mission accomplished’.
“It’s a motivation for everyone – for every team member and a fantastic reward that will count far more through the winter than any financial considerations,” he added.
Hulkenberg said the race was a thriller.
“We managed to come out on top and it’s a very decent end to the season. Sixth position in the championship is good for us and will be a morale booster for the team over the winter.”
Overall, Renault finished sixth in the Constructor standings and Force India at fourth but the episode has seen the season end on a sour note.