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Renault boss quits in Formula One scandal over deliberate crash
Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Business Editor16 Sep 2009
Formula One was plunged into crisis today when the boss of the Renault Team sensationally resigned over the "crashgate" scandal.
Flamboyant Italian Flavio Briatore, who is also a co-owner of QPR, and Renault's director of engineering Pat Symonds quit after allegations of a plan to fix last year's Singapore Grand Prix.
They are accused of ordering Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jnr to crash into a wall during the race, which helped the team's other driver Fernando Alonso take the chequered flag.
Briatore has denied wrongdoing but his departure will be seen as an admission of guilt. His decision to resign came after the Anglo-French team said it would not contest the allegations.
The Renault team has been charged by the sport's governing body, the FIA, with "conspiring with its driver, Nelson Piquet Jnr, to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of its other driver, Fernando Alonso".
Renault has been summoned to a hearing of FIA's World Motorsport Council in Paris next Monday. If found guilty, the team could face a huge fine and even be banned from the championship. Any officials found to be involved in a conspiracy could face a life ban from the sport.
It is alleged that Piquet was ordered to crash at a pre-race meeting. The Sao Paolo-born driver slammed into the wall on lap 14 - shortly after Alonso pitted - allowing the Spaniard to take the lead as the leading drivers were forced to follow a safety car.
Alonso went on to win Formula One's inaugural night race, his first victory for two years, at a time when Renault were considering quitting the sport.
Briatore has accused Piquet and his father, three-times world champion Nelson Piquet Snr, of "blackmail" and is taking them to court. But FIA president Max Mosley said in an interview that there seems to be evidence to support Piquet's claims.
He said: "Certainly the data from the car indicated that something very unusual had happened on the corner where he crashed. So there was enough there to make it unthinkable not to investigate."
Mr Symonds has reportedly been offered immunity by the FIA in return for a disclosure of a full account of the race last September.
Briatore's disgrace will also bring uncertainty to fans of Queen's Park Rangers, which he bought with Bernie Ecclestone two years ago.
Reader views (4)
Never mind what Ferrari and others have done in past years "asking" drivers (poor Reubens, his success with Brawn is definitely deserved) to destroy a 7 figure car, throwing debris everywhere and running the risk of injuring fans directly and possibly drivers with damage incurred by driving through the debris field should be a corporal offense. Let Flavio receive the lifetime ban he deserves from this, go sail around in his vulgarly enormous yacht and play footy club owner with Bernie. If Ecclestone has any scruples he will sever his relationship with the oaf.
- Chris Clarke, San Francisco, US, 21/09/2009 03:28
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Shocking. However, despite the possible consequences of this alleged team order i.e. flying parts going into the crowd and potential damage to the driver himself, is this really any different to the 'team orders' that were happening a few years ago? e.g. Let your team mate over take you as he needs the points to win the championship.
This was at one point, standard F1 strategy week in week out.
Or have I gone ga ga?
- Andy, Richmond, 17/09/2009 15:55
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all sport's bent right..? Say it ain't so Joe..?
- Paul Jardine, Bromley, Kent, 17/09/2009 14:55
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Who cares anymore - F1 has a scandal every other month and the FIA seem to do nothing - this sport is worsening year on year - gone are the glory days of Senna, Piquet, Prost, Mansell and the final golden era of Schumacher - lets hope with the introduction of Lotus and others next year things may change.
- Melly, Cartagena, Colombia, 17/09/2009 14:55
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