July 27, 2009

Renault have been banned from the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23 by the International Motorsports Federation (FIA).

The FIA took the drastic action after a wheel flew off the car of former world champion Fernando Alonso during Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix with the team accused of not respecting security rules.

“Renault are suspended from the next event of the 2009 world championship,” said a FIA statement.

The French outfit announced they would appeal the ban.

“Renault F1, by this document, formally registers its intention to appeal against the decision by the officials,” Renault wrote in a letter to the FIA.

Stewards summoned Renault officials to explain why pole-sitter Alonso's right front right wheel was incorrectly fitted and was allowed to leave the pits.

Video and radio transmissions were studied, and found that Renault “knowingly” allowed the Spanish driver to rejoin the race with a loose wheel nut.

“This resulted in a heavy car part (the aerodynamic wheel cover) detaching and the wheel itself detaching at turn nine,” the stewards' report added.

Sunday's incident came just a week after 18-year-old driver Henry Surtees - the son of former F1 champion John Surtees - was killed when he was struck by a loose wheel during a Formula Two race in England.