Renault suspended from European Grand Prix

The ruling means that Fernando Alonso will miss his home race, after the stewards decreed that Renault had "knowingly released car no. 7 from the pit stop position without one of the retaining devices for the wheel-nuts being securely in position, this being an indication that the wheel itself may not have been properly secured."

The stewards ruled that Renault, "being aware of this, failed to take any action to prevent the car from leaving the pit lane™.failed to inform the driver of this problem or to advise him to take appropriate action given the circumstances, even though the driver contacted the team by radio believing he had a puncture."

The incident resulted in Alonso's wheel coming off shortly after his pit stop, and forced Alonso to retire from the race.

In the wake of Henry Surtees' death in Formula 2 the week before, and Felipe Massa's accident in qualifying on Saturday, the FIA felt the need to take action to prevent further such incidents from happening in the future.

Renault has confirmed that they have put in an official appeal against the decision, and the hearing is expected to take place during the month long break before the next race in Valencia.