Renault Charged For 2008 Singapore GP Crash

[Chris Elyea]

Still unknown whether Little Piquet brought forward the new info that led to the charge. Bernie earlier stated that if Piquet was involved, he should be punished, too. Bernie also said he feared anything that might prompt another manufacturer to drop out of F1 and didn't sound in favour of digging up past actions.

Renault will meet with the WMSC on September 21.

Renault summoned before World Motor Sport Council (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78321)

[DJ Lazy]

Oh man!! :rofl: :rofl:

This season is such a gong show....

If Piquet is the result of this "new evidence" you can bet he has sealed his "retired" fate in F1... I can't see any team wanting to fill a seat with a snitch, even if they have nothing to hide, but we all know that most teams always have something to hide. :nut:

At least most of the bad attention has been taken off Mclaren for the latter part of the season. :D

[Chris Elyea]

Originally posted by DJ Lazy
I can't see any team wanting to fill a seat with a snitch, even if they have nothing to hide, but we all know that most teams always have something to hide. :nut:
My recollection is that Alonso, torqued off because McLaren was favouring the higher ranking Hamilton, voluntarily provided the FIA with e-mail evidence during Spygate. It hasn't hurt his career. If you can win, they'll forgive you.

[Chris Elyea]

Renault is so screwed!

Rumor has it that:

- Piquet is the source of the info behind the charge
- telemetry proves he crashed on purpose
- Flav and engineering director Pat Symonds do not deny that's what happened, they just claim it was all Piquet's idea

Link to Autosport news story (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78446)

[DJ Lazy]

Originally posted by Chris Elyea
If you can win, they'll forgive you.

Piquet Jr. is not a 2 time world champion... or a winner for that matter. Big difference between Alonso and Piquet ;)

[cloud7]

Originally posted by DJ Lazy


Piquet Jr. is not a 2 time world champion... or a winner for that matter. Big difference between Alonso and Piquet ;)

Yup... so bye bye Piquet Jr...

[Chris Elyea]

It gets better!

Renault has initiated criminal proceedings against Piquet Jr. and Sr. They are accused of blackmail!

Formula1.com news article (http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9903.html)

[Mibz]

Alonso needs to GTFO so nobody important suffers from the hella-drama.

[rage2]

Doesn't blackmail involve Piquet Jr. and Sr. getting something in return? AFAIK, he's fired, and isn't asking for anything.

[Team_Mclaren]

From what I understand, Piquet Jr just ensure himself to never be able to get a seat in F1 or competitive racing again... what an idiot

[urban.one]

The Renault statement says:"... related attempt to blackmail the team into allowing Mr Piquet Jnr to drive for the remainder of the 2009 season. The matter will also be referred to the Police in the UK."

It would seem this drama has been going on throughout the season and started long before Piquet got fired. The blackmail could be Jr and Sr saying to Flavio "How can you fire Jr knowing you told him to crash? Fire him and we go to the media with what we know. Let him run all of 2009 and we keep quiet."


Originally posted by rage2
Doesn't blackmail involve Piquet Jr. and Sr. getting something in return? AFAIK, he's fired, and isn't asking for anything.

[Chris Elyea]

Max Mosley said earlier today that Piquet had been granted immunity from being punished over the affair. (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78511)

A very strange decision!

[urban.one]

Doesnt matter much. Nelson Jr is done in F1 so any punishment from FIA including taking away his super license would be meaningless.


Originally posted by Chris Elyea
Max Mosley said earlier today that Piquet had been granted immunity from being punished over the affair. (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78511)

A very strange decision!

[Chris Elyea]

Flavio brought it to a new low today. Now he seems to be using innuendo to imply that Piquet Sr. was concerned that Little Piquet might be gay. Given Flav's lifestyle, he probably considers this to be a grave insult to Little Piquet's manliness.

More of Flavio bashing Little Piquet (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78532)

[Chris Elyea]

Autosport publishes part of Pat Symonds responses (or lack thereof) to the FIA (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78647)

Apparently they've now offered him immunity, too. Because they don't have a case yet? And why didn't he deny things outright? Because there really was a plan? Is Renault's blackmail charge just a way of making sure everybody goes down?

The hearing is just under a week away, but I wonder if we'll ever know what really happened.

[Team_Mclaren]

man someone is definitely out to get Flavio.....

[Mibz]

And it worked. Flavio and Symonds have left Renault and Renault isn't going to challenge the charges against them.

[Chris Elyea]

It's been given a name: Crashgate

Flavio and Pat Symonds have left Renault. By their choice or Renault's?

Renault will not dispute allegations (http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9940.html)

And I thought Ferrari's team orders were underhanded! This, well, not much is worse than this. There have been a few cases of drivers crashing into other drivers to secure the WDC (Senna and Schumacher to name two, and also two of the most talented and beloved of drivers, I might add), so I'd say that was worse. Not much else, though.

It's actually more like a NASCAR trick. Drivers have been known to throw equipment out the window to get a debris caution or take other action to draw a yellow flag. They don't even penalize it that heavily. It's not something I want to see in F1.

With Flavio, Pat Symonds, and Little Piquet gone from F1, likely for good, what can the FIA do? Sure they can throw the book at Renault, but would that entice yet another manufacturer to pull out? I sure hope that Renault can convince the FIA they've handled this better than McLaren handled Spygate. I hate to see a whole team get penalized for having a few lowlifes on board.

[Chris Elyea]

Originally posted by Chris Elyea
Flavio brought it to a new low today.
Missed this on Sunday - nice to see Reubens has enough character to stand up to Flavio!

Barrichello slams Flavio's remarks (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78577)

[urban.one]

I dont know what other ending this could have had but its sad to see these two guys leave F1.

Look at all the characters we've lost from F1 in the past few years: Eddie Jordan, Ron Dennis, Jean Todt, and now Falvio.

Rumour is Alain Prost will replace Flav. Anyone remember Prost GP?

In case anyone doesnt know, Flavio had a kid with Heidi Klum before she hooked up with Seal.

http://www.stereogum.com/img/heidiklum.jpg

http://www.condenast.co.uk/dcontent/images/vogue_2000/daily_updates/daily_images/g_j/hklum_fbriatore03_ntfB.jpg

Heres some other random Flavio pics:

http://www.gossipnews.it/mondanita/briatore/images/Alena_Seredova_e_Flavio_Briatore_2.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/07/29/article-1039581-021A8F8A00000578-981_468x637.jpg

http://celebslam.celebuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/gregoraci-bikini.jpg

[cloud7]

wow, can't believe Flavio and Pat are gone from Renault... this is getting bigger and bigger... This is doing nothing but harm to F1.

[DJ Lazy]

Originally posted by cloud7
wow, can't believe Flavio and Pat are gone from Renault... this is getting bigger and bigger... This is doing nothing but harm to F1.

This year........ this is F1... :nut: Racing, what's that?? :rofl:

[BerserkerCatSplat]

I knew Flav and Symonds were toast as soon as I read Symond's interview with the FIA. Good riddance to Flav.




Transcript of Pat Symonds' FIA interview

Tuesday, September 15th 2009, 06:44 GMT

This if the official transcript of the relevant parts of an interview between FIA representatives and Pat Symonds, at the Belgian Grand Prix, discussing the Singapore Grand Prix race-fix allegations and the race morning meeting between himself, Flavio Briatore and Nelson Piquet.

FIA adviser: In your own words Mr. Symonds what do you recall being said to Nelson Piquet Jnr at that meeting? This is shortly before the race.

Symonds: I don't really remember it.

FIA adviser: You don't remember?

Symonds: No.

FIA adviser: Nelson Piquet Jnr says that he was asked by you to cause a deliberate crash. Is that true?

Symonds: Nelson had spoken to me the day before and suggested that. That's all I'd really like to say.

(...)

FIA adviser: Mr Symonds were you aware that there was going to be crash at Lap 14?

Symonds: I don't want to answer that question.

(...)

FIA adviser: There is just one thing that I ought to ask you and put it to you so you can think about it at least. Mr. Piquet Jnr says that having had the initial meeting with you and Flavio Briatore you then met him individually with the map of the circuit. Do you remember that?

Symonds: I won't answer, rather not answer that. I don't recall it but it sounds like Nelson's talked a lot more about it.

FIA adviser: Mr. Piquet Jnr also says at that meeting you pointed out a specific place on the circuit where he was to have the accident and said it was because it was the furthest away from any of the safety or lifting equipment and gave the most likely chance of a safety car being deployed.

Symonds: I don't, I don't want to answer that question.

FIA adviser: [Referring to the pre-race meeting] Was it you that did the talking at that meeting Mr. Symonds?

Symonds: I'm sure it would have been both of us but I don't know for sure. Sorry that's a contradiction. I would imagine it would be both of us that would be normal. Actually probably more often it's Flavio that does the talking himself. I wouldn't necessarily always agree with what he's saying but the majority.

FIA adviser: Because just to be absolutely clear here what Nelson Piquet Jnr has said is that at that meeting it was you that asked him to have a crash deliberately?

Symonds: I can't answer you.

FIA adviser: Can I say that if Mr. Symonds you'd been put in the position where you were made to ask Mr. Piquet Jnr to crash it's much better, it would be much better for you in the long term to tell these stewards to hear that today?

Symonds: I fully understand that.

FIA adviser: Yes.

Symonds: I have no intention of lying to you. I have not lied to you but I have reserved my position just a little.

FIA adviser: And you're aware that the stewards may draw conclusions from your unwillingness to assist them in relation to what went on in that meeting?

Symonds: I would expect them to. I would absolutely expect that.

FIA adviser: I think I haven't got any further questions.



As a sideshow, it looks like that if Flav is ruled against by the FIA, he will also be forced to sell his (partial?) ownership of a certain football team due to their league regulations banning ownership by anyone who's been banned by a sport's governing body, regardless of the sport.

[scat19]

He has some hotties. :drool:

[Chris Elyea]

Suspended Sentence for Renault (http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9953.html)

So it's all tidied up now. Two year suspended ban for Renault, Flavio is banned indefinitely, and Pat Symonds for five years. Little Piquet gets off with nothing - wonder why Symonds didn't take the immunity deal when they offered it to him?

Seems like a suspiciously quick and clean ending - Renault stays in F1 and we put the matter behind us. I feel that somehow we didn't get to the bottom of this....

[Mibz]

So, from what I read, Renault is one probation until the end of 2011 at which point, IF THEY'VE CAUSED A BREACH OF COMPARABLE MEASURE, they will be suspended for two years.

WTF?

[rage2]

Race fixing, according to Max, was 100x worse than Spygate. Yet, Renault got a suspended ban, which means nothing, and McLaren got $100m fine AND 1 year suspended ban.

What kind of bullshit is that???

[Chris Elyea]

From what little is known about Crashgate, if you can believe it, there were only 3 conspirators at Renault, and they've all left. Were Flav and Pat fired? Murky.

Whereas with Spygate, didn't just about everybody at McLaren eventually know what was going on, yet say nothing? I thought Alonso had provided some e-mails from the test driver showing they were discussing what Ferrari was doing and trying it out themselves?

I believe that's why they're being treated differently.

[rage2]

Originally posted by Chris Elyea
From what little is known about Crashgate, if you can believe it, there were only 3 conspirators at Renault, and they've all left. Were Flav and Pat fired? Murky.

Whereas with Spygate, didn't just about everybody at McLaren eventually know what was going on, yet say nothing? I thought Alonso had provided some e-mails from the test driver showing they were discussing what Ferrari was doing and trying it out themselves?

I believe that's why they're being treated differently.
Funny that Alonso is brought up... because there's no way he didn't know about the entire setup. The guy bitches and whines and complains about every little thing, even makes shit up to convince himself that everyone's conspiring against him. But... he says absolutely nothing when his strategy is completely messed up for this race. He qualified 15th, and got the worst strategy ever. Short first stint, long 2nd stint. It was a strategy that made absolutely no sense... unless he knew that there would be a crash on lap 14.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally posted by rage2
Race fixing, according to Max, was 100x worse than Spygate. Yet, Renault got a suspended ban, which means nothing, and McLaren got $100m fine AND 1 year suspended ban.

What kind of bullshit is that???

Despite my dislike of the FIA, this ruling seems logical in a strange way. If they had been heavily fined, Renault would have just pulled out of F1 immediately and the FIA would never have seen the money. The main thing here, though, is that the whole shebang was a Flav hunt. The FIA wanted him gone (due to the fixing or for whatever other reason), and thus he fell on his sword. So, really, as far as the FIA is concerned, mission accomplished. Flav is gone, Renault stays in F1 for the time being instead of pulling out.

That doesn't change the fact that the McMerc fine was BS.

[ottamania]

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

2 year :eek:

[Team_Mclaren]

^^ its a suspended ban, which means shit all.

[DJ Lazy]

^^ yup, similar to the one Mclaren got this year for Liargate.. 1 Year suspended ban... except Renaults is 2

[Chris Elyea]

Did anybody see Bernie's comments about encouraging Flavio to appeal his sentence? Even Bernie admitted it was strange for him to say because he was on the jury that passed the sentence. They just keep coming up with new flavours of weird, don't they?

Bernie encourages Flavio to appeal lifetime ban (http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/story/?id=292398)

[Team_Mclaren]

Bernie and Flavio are like fuck buddies. Of course Bernie is sad that his lover is forced to leave

Renault wont be coming back next year. Sponsors are leaving left right and center. PeeGay really fucked them over.

[Mibz]

So I'm reading an interview with Jacque Villeneuve and he had this to say:

Q. Do you think nowadays in F1 the drivers have lost power? And that could have been a factor in why Nelson Piquet agreed to crash deliberately in Singapore last year?

JV: That is not a driver losing his power. That is just a driver being weak, young and a total idiot. And proving that he should never have been part of Formula 1. It is very simple.


<3 JV. I hope he gets back in.

[buh_buh]

I was sifting through some old posts, and I found this from Sept 28/08.


Originally posted by buh_buh
If I didn't know any better, I wouldve thought Renault packaged that whole thing for the Alonso win. Alonso should've thanked Piquet for the win.

[Chris Elyea]

So Piquet's going to try NASCAR now. A test doesn't mean much. He'll need sponsorship to get a ride and I have a hard time seeing anybody wanting to use him as their poster boy. Maybe one of those places that helps you get out of speeding tickets and drunk driving charges?

Piquet to test in NASCAR truck series (http://tsn.ca/auto_racing/story/?id=294085)

[Trini]

He shouldn't have a problem in NASCAR, as he likes to crash into walls

[Team_Mclaren]

That's kind of sad really, i dont think he can ever land a drive in Europe ever again... What a tool

[Chris Elyea]

Flav is going to sue the FIA over his ban. He even wants monetary compensation for the damage to his reputation. Good luck with that!

Autosport: Flav to sue FIA (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79569)