Renault suspended for European GP over loose wheel

BUDAPEST - The Renault Formula One team was suspended for next month’s European Grand Prix in Valencia after permitting driver Fernando Alonso to race at Sunday’s Hungarian GP with a loose wheel.

Alonso, who started the race from pole, pitted after 12 laps at the Hungaroring. But his pit team failed to secure his front right tyre, resulting in it bouncing away when he returned to the track.

The incident came just 24 hours after Ferrari’s Felipe Massa was struck on his helmet by a piece of flying debris from the car of Rubens Barrichello. The incident resulted in the Brazilian being rushed to the hospital with a fractured skull and concussion.

Renault announced that it plans to appeal the decision by race stewards.

The loss of Alonso’s wheel also revives memories of the accident last weekend at Britain’s Brands Hatch circuit, in which Henry Surtees, the son of former F1 world champion John Surtees, was killed during a race after being struck by a wheel.

The freak accident occurred when driver Jack Clarke’s car hit a tyre wall and a wheel came off, hitting Surtees on the head.

The European Grand Prix takes place Aug 23. Interestingly, the ban only applies to the Renault team, meaning that theoretically Alonso could drive for Ferrari, a team he has been linked with, as Massa’s temporary replacement.