Hockenheim

Last Race: 25th Jul Germany

Germany GP Results
Pos Driver
1Fernando Alonso
2Felipe Massa
3Sebastian Vettel

Story Tools

Related links

More News

Sky Bet F1 betting

Valencia: Think about the Spanish fans

Tuesday 28th July 2009

 RSS
Valencia: Think about the Spanish fans

Valencia: Think about the Spanish fans

European GP organisers have urged the FIA to overturn the one-race suspension handed down to Renault following Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Regie were suspended from next month's race, to be held on Valencia's street circuit, after the right-front wheel came off Fernando Alonso's car at the Hungaroring and bounced away to the side of the track.

The Spaniard had been leading the race and Valencia organisers are worried that fans who have already bought tickets to watch the double World Champion in action will miss out.

"We believe that (while safety is the priority) it is also necessary to think of the fans," Valmor Sport vice-president Jorge Martinez Aspar said.

"As everyone knows, many of them have bought tickets to see Fernando Alonso race in Valencia. We don't think they should be the ones to pay for this decision.

"It would be a shame if he wasn't in the race and we are confident he could be there, although we recognise it will be difficult after all the other incidents that happened last weekend."

Race stewards ruled that Renault had released Alonso from a pit stop knowing that the wheel was not properly secured and then failing to tell the driver.

The incident came a week after 18-year-old Briton Henry Surtees died in a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch after being struck by a loose wheel bouncing across the track.

It also followed the incident in qualifying at the Hungaroring on Saturday in which Ferrari's Felipe Massa suffered serious head injuries after he was hit on the helmet by a spring which had fallen from compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn.

Adrian Campos, boss of new Formula One team Campos Meta, said the decision was a "disaster" for Valencia.

"If things were already not going well for the Valencia Grand Prix this was just what they were missing," he said.

Renault have already said they will appeal against the stewards' decision.

Related Links
Renault appeal Valencia ban

User comments

    Loading

      Post a comment

      Friday's Shots From Hungary

      Editor's Picks

      German Winners & Losers

      German Winners & Losers

      The podium in Germany looked like some messy divorce with all the participants keen to get on the next flight out of there...

      Why Ferrari Were Wrong

      Why Ferrari Were Wrong

      Ferrari have been fined $100k for using team orders in Germany. But they were in the wrong not just because they broke the rules...

      PF1 Fantasy League

      PF1 Fantasy League

      We've reached a critical stage in the 2010 F1 season and it's now or never for your Fantasy League team. The McLaren drivers or the Red Bull duo?

      PF1 Results Centre

      PF1 Results Centre

      Do you remember who won the Australian Grand Prix Or who came third in China? The Results Centre will provide you with all the answers...