Renault has somehow managed to get away with only a small smack on the wrist from the FIA over the whole crash-gate scandal. They’ve been handed a 2 year “suspended disqualification”. This means the disqualification will be placed on hold until the end of 2011, and it will only become active if the FIA gets a sniff of something similiar happening.
The following is the official statement from the FIA:
At an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council held in Paris on 21 September 2009, the ING Renault F1 team admitted that the team had conspired with its driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, in breach of the International Sporting Code and F1 Sporting Regulations.
Renault F1 stated at the meeting that it had conducted a detailed internal investigation, which found that: (i) Flavio Briatore, Pat Symonds and Nelson Piquet Jr. had conspired to cause the crash; and (ii) no other team member was involved in the conspiracy.
Having used information based on its own investigation of the incident in Marina Bay, the FIA listed the reasons why the penalty is suspended (and set to expire at the end of 2011) as opposed to an instant banishing from Formula One:
* It had accepted, at the earliest practicable opportunity, that it committed the offences with which it was charged and cooperated fully with the FIA’s investigation.?
* It had confirmed that Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds were involved in the conspiracy and ensured that they left the team.?
* It apologised unreservedly to the FIA and to the sport for the harm caused by its actions.?
* It committed to paying the costs incurred by the FIA in its investigation.
?* Renault (the parent company, as opposed to Renault F1) committed to making a significant contribution to FIA safety-related projects.Nelson Piquet Jr. also apologised unreservedly to the World Motor Sport Council for his part in the conspiracy.
In addition, Flavio Briatore has been banned permanently from F1 and all FIA events. Here is a separate statement released on that matter:
The World Motor Sport Council declares that, for an unlimited period, the FIA does not intend to sanction any International Event, Championship, Cup, Trophy, Challenge or Series involving Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any Team or other entity engaging Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever.
It also hereby instructs all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Briatore access to any areas under the FIA’s jurisdiction.
Furthermore, it does not intend to renew any Superlicence granted to any driver who is associated (through a management contract or otherwise) with Mr. Briatore, or any entity or individual associated with Mr. Briatore.
In determining that such instructions should be applicable for an unlimited period, the World Motor Sport Council has had regard not only to the severity of the breach in which Mr. Briatore was complicit but also to his actions in continuing to deny his participation in the breach despite all the evidence.
Flavio was the team principal for Renault but that was not the only area he was involved in when it came to F1. He was also the driver manager for Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen from Red Bull and McLaren respectively. They will have to look for new management and get new super licenses.
Renault’s Executive Director of Engineering Pat Symonds (who also resigned when Briatore did) has also been served a punishment – a 5-year ban.
The World Motor Sport Council declares that, for a period of five years, the FIA does not intend to sanction any International Event, Championship, Cup, Trophy, Challenge or Series involving Mr. Symonds in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any Team or other entity engaging Mr. Symonds in any capacity whatsoever.
It hereby instructs, for a period of five years, all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Symonds access to any areas under the FIA’s jurisdiction.
In determining that such instructions should be effective for a period of five years the World Motor Sport Council has had regard: (i) to Mr. Symonds’ acceptance that he took part in the conspiracy; and (ii) to his communication to the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council that it was to his “eternal regret and shame” that he participated in the conspiracy.
Nelson Piquet goes off scot-free. As for who will replace Briatore – people are saying it could be Alain Prost.
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WOW! Briatore got banned permanently from ALL FIA sanctioned events. Not just F1. His professional career in motorsport is over!. Now he'll have more time for his supermodels
see the absolute power of piquet's money…he won 3 times driver championship and very rich…he can hire best lawyer…hahaha….anyone cannot bullying the piquet family…very big sin huhu
I must admit that flavio Briatore add a very interesting environment when it comes to F1.. but that was a very fair punishment I think.. consider how serious the wrong he has done.
Bye bye Briatore; haha.
and it is good to see alain prost back into F1 as team principal
and pleaseee….lotus f1 cannot hired piquet jr. for second suit in lotus….it's catastrophic…see the power of piquet sr……
althought piquet sr winning world championship at 1987 in Lotus….there in no guarantees piquet jr is available for second seat…looking coulthard or maybe barrichello for Lotus F1 next year…rosberg for brawn…and maybe brawn winning championship…the conclusion maybe suitable barrichello for Lotus…guiding fauzy in F1
sorry button for championship…typo error
ooops sorry…piquet not winning in lotus…williams the most…sorry
At least now he has more time to spend with his beautiful partner. And retire peacefully
Formula One 2010 calendar:
Mar 14 – Bahrain (Sakhir)
Mar 28 – Australia (Melbourne, starting at 1700 local time)
Apr 4 – Malaysia (Sepang, starting at 1600 local time)
Apr 18 – China (Shanghai)
May 9 – Spain (Barcelona)
May 23 – Monaco (Monte Carlo)
May 30 – Turkey (Istanbul)
Jun 13 – Canada (Montreal, provisional)
Jun 27 – Europe (Valencia)
Jul 11 – Great Britain (Donington Park)
Jul 25 – Germany (Hockenheim)
Aug 1 – Hungary (Budapest)
Aug 29 – Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
Sep 12 – Italy (Monza)
Sep 26 – Singapore (starting at 2000 local time)
Oct 3 – Japan (Suzuka)
Oct 17 – South Korea (Yongam)
Oct 31 – Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina, starting at 1700 local time)
Nov 14 – Brazil (Interlagos)
Seriously this is pretty f**ked up especially the championship is decided with just a single point. If NP jr did not crash, Massa would not had rushed into the pit and the traffic light incident would not happen. Massa would then gain more than a point this could means that he would be the 2008 WDC. :S
Really f**ked up the politics in F1
We all will miss Bravo Briatore and his beauties at monte carlo bravo bravo.Renault should be penalized partially for being part of the scheming pat symonds and bravo ,as what if piquet jr. was killed or have to lose a leg?
His professional career in motorsport is over!.
not even in F1, he's the chairman for QPR football team. In english FA rules, any chairman or shareholders must be 'ban free' from any sports association. Right now english FA are investigating abt Briatore banning from FIA. he might lose his QPR team also.
"Malaysia (Sepang, starting at 1600 local time)" >> tsk tsk.. 4PM race in tropical Klang Valley. They haven't learned their lesson, have they?
Wow…life time ban on Flavio Briatore, 5 year ban for Pat Symonds. Piquet Jr gets immunity and Renault F1 gets a suspended 2 year ban. Something ain't right here as it "takes two to tango" and honestly Pay, Piquet Jr and also Renault F1 should be banned from participating in Formula One.
To Tifosi :
Massa didn't lose the Championship just because of this so called 'crash-gate' incident. He lost the championship because of the botched pitstop in Singapore, spun out of the races in Albert Park and Sepang, had an engine failure at Hungaoring when he was leading comfortably.
ok. two cars surely will be missing from the grid next year. can sauber slot in.??
pronaz: fia schedule the time in favor of their so called "european viewers".
:-P
khimfoh said,
September 22, 2009 @ 7:53 pm
Wow…life time ban on Flavio Briatore, 5 year ban for Pat Symonds. Piquet Jr gets immunity and Renault F1 gets a suspended 2 year ban. Something ain’t right here as it “takes two to tango” and honestly Pay, Piquet Jr and also Renault F1 should be banned from participating in Formula One.
To Tifosi :
Massa didn’t lose the Championship just because of this so called ‘crash-gate’ incident. He lost the championship because of the botched pitstop in Singapore, spun out of the races in Albert Park and Sepang, had an engine failure at Hungaoring when he was leading comfortably.
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You could argue that if there was no safety car, Massa wouldn't have to rush the pitstop. No rush pitstop, no botched pitstop. No botched pitstop, points in the bank…
FIA, if you red-flag again the malaysian GP. we all will throw beer cans and bottles into the race tracks like what those americans did back in 2005. grrr…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_United_States_G…
no1 can change last year result. No such thing as if!! Hamilton is d champion. :) what if last year's Brazil GP no rain??
Tiadaid said
You could argue that if there was no safety car, Massa wouldn’t have to rush the pitstop. No rush pitstop, no botched pitstop. No botched pitstop, points in the bank…
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Well, whether there was a safety car or not…I highly doubt that was the actual root cause of Massa being out of the Singapore GP last year. My guess was the electronic 'lollipop' device which caused Massa to leave the pits with the fuel hose still being deployed..
scanzew said,
September 22, 2009 @ 12:53 am
althought piquet sr winning world championship at 1987 in Lotus….
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Uh, Piquet Sr. won Championship with Brabham in 80 & 83, and Williams in 87. Lotus last won a championship in 1978 with Mario Andretti & the ground effect Lotus 79. Lotus never won another race after Senna left for McLaren.
shame, shame…..
Padan muka for Briatore..