F1: Controversial! Renault effectively admits guilt!

[Arctra]

I am absolutely floored by this!

From F1-Live.com (http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...16164243.shtml):

The media read between the lines of Renault's short media statement issued today which announced that the bosses Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds had left the team and that Renault would not dispute allegations they conspired with Nelson Piquet to rig the outcome of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix by faking an accident.

The German press agency DPA said the team had "effectively admitted to race-fixing" ahead of the September 21 hearing of the World Motor Sport Council who have the powers to impose a range of penalties, from fines to permanent exclusion.

<snip>

There are also other ramifications to consider, such as Briatore's co-ownership with Bernie Ecclestone of the London football club Queens Park Rangers, and - depending on the carmaker's reaction or the WMSC sanction - Renault's significant role in GP2 and other motor racing categories.

Former team boss and owner Eddie Jordan told the BBC: "Will the FA (Football Association) allow him to continue to run a club?"

"As a normal person on the street I think this is a clear-cut admission and I am surprised," he added, explaining that after decades in motor racing, he "can't comprehend" ordering a driver to crash.

Do you think the World Motor Sport Council will go easy on Renault for effectively admitting guilt?

[jasn78]

basing off what mclaren copped as a penalty for spying there will be more than just their balls on the line from this.

[jasn78]

btw mate ur link didnt work

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...16131922.shtml

[Arctra]

Thanks, I've fixed the link.

So what do you reckon they'll get? Kicked out for this season? Next season? A fine? Will Alonso get away scott-free?

[jasn78]

i missed the sg race last yr mate so im not sure what alonso's role etc is but surely its got to be at least a ban from competition for that. If a footballer gets found guilty of this they cop a long suspension so I cant see anything less than that occuring. Btw i mean that for Renault themselves not Alonso

[gtimk5]

I predict that Renault will pull out of F1.
Years ago the Toyota rally team was found guilty of cheating with their engines and were exluded from the WRC for 12 months.
If you were Nelson Piquet jr. and you were told crash, would you do it?? If he had gone against the team rules and held a press conference immediately after the race announcing his instructions the outcome for him may have been different. Either way his career is gone. I am not blaming him, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I wonder how much race/championship fixing was going on at Adelaide when Schumacher drove in Mansell on purpose? Might have been Hill, either way, it was blatant.

[sir_camel]

I am shocked by this. At first i thought it was PQ getting some major sour grapes on after a nasty split with the team mid season.

Also you have to ask why would Renault do this in the first place? No where near being championship contenders last year were they? I know a win is a win but pretty poor form and a MASSIVE risk. They must have known PQ could say this after booting him from the team too.

Eagerly waiting for the 21st Sept findings.

[gtimk5]

Flavio was Schumachers boss/manager when he crashed into the other car at Adelaide by the way......

[jasn78]

yeha but gti im pretty sure that incident was just schuey being scheuy rather than management orders, i think it was michael trying to win at all costs rather than purposfully rig a races results

[gtimk5]

I am probably reading into that Jas but those antics stick in your mind.
Schuwy was known to run into people to defend titles occasionally.

Still, back on topic, it will be interesting to see the outcome of all this latest
F1 saga.

[FJ Steve]

yeha but gti im pretty sure that incident was just schuey being scheuy rather than management orders, i think it was michael trying to win at all costs rather than purposfully rig a races results

you just keep on dreaming about MS being the all conquering clean as a whistle driver. No problems.

I saw a documentary the other week on the history of Flavio B. Talk about Mafia boss. That guy is as sneaky as Pedo Bear on a choir boys outing. He has been involved in more shaky deals and skulduggery than Christopher Skase. In fact he makes Skase look like a kindergarten bully.

I don't know why Alonso would be punished...unless it can be proven that he had an involvement in the deal (prior to the crash). As for Renault...no big issue, there is another 3 teams being welcomed into F1 next year...Bernie has a full grid and a full pocket, he isn't worried.

[jasn78]

steve im not saying he was clean all im saying is what he did is completly different to rigging a race based on orders from management by crashing ur own car on purpose.

To me this is a huge difference in scenarios and what the response should be from the governing body

[FJ Steve]

Google Prost vs Schumacher Japan

Tell me what you think of MS's driving then

*edit*...apologies. It was Senna vs Prost ... 1989 Suzuka

Still hold the opinion that MS wasn't the "cleanest" driver out there.

[No457 Snowy]

I get the feeling that NPJ has sadly allowed himself to be used as a puppet by Briatore (and Symonds). I think that by pulling this stunt, NPJ thought he might gain the favor of the Renault bosses and it looks to be the act of a desperate man who thought he was soon to be rissoled from the team for not driving up to par at that level, and not getting enough points for the team. If this little stunt had flown, he probably thought he could get into the good books would get re-signed.

Apparently Briatore had it in for NPJ anyway and had previously alluded to NPJ that his contract going to be terminated. How could you trust Briatore, after coming up with this scam, the first thing he said after the crash on the team radio was something like "F#$k he's not a driver". So it was all in vain for NPJ anyway, Briatore was going to burn him either way.

A very poor display of character from all parties involved.

Alonso says he knew nothing of the whole plan, but I wonder why he apparently didn't even question such an unusual fuel strategy (only enough for 14 laps), allowing his lighter car to outpace the heavier fueled-up cars, then the early fuel stop, and then the perfectly timed incident involving his team-mate and the heaven-sent Safety Car.

[gtimk5]

All done and dusted!! Nice and quick and Renault come out looking pretty sweet.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9953.html