Ricciardo excluded from qualifying for MGU-K power limit breach!

Renault's Daniel Ricciardo has been thrown out of Singapore Grand Prix qualifying for exceeding the MGU-K energy limit in Q1.

Renault's team representatives were summoned to the stewards post-qualifying after the latter received a report from the FIA Technical Delegate alleging a breach of the technical regulations regarding MGU-K energy usage.

The stewards released the following statement confirming Ricciardo's exclusion from the Saturday night session which the Aussie had concluded in P8.

"The Stewards heard from the FIA Technical Delegate and team representatives including the team manager and two of the engineers responsible.

"It was established in the hearing, beyond any doubt in the opinion of the Steward, that the competitor exceeded the MGU-K power flow limit permitted under Appendix 3, per Article 52.2 of the 2019 Formula One Technical Regulations.

"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.

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"Notwithstanding the team's argument, 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 obtain'.

"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 Renault F1 team said on social media that it would not appeal the decision

"Renault F1 Team acknowledges the decision from the FIA Stewards to disqualify Daniel Ricciardo from the qualifying session of the Singapore Grand Prix 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."

Racing Point's Sergio Perez who qualified P11 would have moved up to tenth but the Mexican is demoted five spots on Sunday's grid following a gearbox replacement.

Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi should therefore move up to P10 on the Singapore Grand Prix grid.

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