Ricciardo disqualified from Singapore GP qualifying

Daniel Ricciardo has been disqualified from qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix due to an MGU-K technical infringement.

Ricciardo put his Renault R.S.19 eighth on the starting grid for tonight’s 61-lap affair but has now had to be given dispensation to race given has officially not set a qualifying time.

The breach had in fact occurred during Q1, in which the Australian was 12th quickest, and indeed not even on his fastest lap during that 18-minute stanza.

The Renault F1 Team also argued that the breach, which was exceeding the MGU-K power flow limit, was so small as to not offer a performance advantage anyway.

However, neither of those factors were considered to have mitigated the offence, consistent with previous practice.

“It was established in the hearing, beyond any doubt in the opinion of the Stewards, that the competitor exceeded the MGU- power flow limit permitted under Appendix 3, per Article 5.2.2 of the 2019 Formula One Technical Regulations,” read the stewards report.

“The method by which this limit is regulated is well known and understood by the teams. Neither the fact that the car had exceeded the limit nor the methodology by which it is policed was disputed by the team.

“The team’s defense rested on two points. First, that the excess was very small and offered no measurable benefit. Second, that the excess occurred during the second fastest lap during Q1.

“The team explained to the Stewards how they believe the excess occurred, however the Stewards consider this information to be confidential to the team, and not relevant to this decision.

“Notwithstanding the team’s arguments, the Stewards take note of the very clear wording of Article 1.2.2 ISC, which states that ‘If an Automobile is found not to comply with the applicable technical regulations, it shall be no defense to claim that no performance advantage was obtained’.

“In coming to this decision the Stewards referred to longstanding precedents regarding technical infringements and the penalty which has been consistently applied is disqualification, and which does not consider when or if an advantage was gained. This principle has been very clearly affirmed by the International Court of Appeal.

“The Stewards therefore order Car 3 disqualified from the results of Qualifying.”

The summons issued to Renault does not reveal the magnitude of the breach, only that the threshold was exceeded.

“Alleged breach of Article 5.2.2 of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations, car 3, driver Daniel Ricciardo, exceeded the MGU-K power limit of 120 kW during Qualifying 1,” was the stated reason for the summons.

Renault claims that the spike caused Ricciardo to gain only one microsecond and was caused by a kerb hit.

after he benefitted from an advantage measured at one-microsecond due to a kerb hit that caused his MGU-K to overrev on his slowest lap of Q1. The decision will therefore not be appealed. [2/2]

— Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) September 21, 2019

At present, the only other qualifying-related penalty is Sergio Perez’s five-position grid penalty for a gearbox change, putting the Racing Point driver 15th on the grid after Ricciardo was moved to the very back.

Starting grid Updated