Chookes 21 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Renault have been given a two-year suspended ban for their role in fixing last year's Singapore Grand Prix. The team were called before governing body the FIA to answer charges they had asked driver Nelson Piquet Jr to crash to help team-mate Fernando Alonso win. Former team boss Flavio Briatore has been banned from FIA sanctioned events for an unlimited period. Renault's ex-engineering director Pat Symonds has also been excluded from Formula 1 for five years. Briatore and Symonds parted company with Renault last week at the same time as the French car giant said they would not contest the charges. The FIA agreed not to pursue action against Piquet for his role in uncovering the details of the scandal. Alonso, who attended the hearing in Paris, was also cleared of any involvement in the race-fixing scheme with the FIA adding it "thanks him for cooperating with enquiries and concludes that Mr Alonso was not in any way involved in Renault F1's breach of the regulations." However, the World Motor Sport Council hearing found Renault "in breach of the International Sporting Code and Sporting Regulations." A statement by the FIA added: "The council considers Renault F1's breaches relating to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to be of unparalleled severity. "They not only compromised the integrity of the sport but also endangered the lives of spectators, officials, other competitors and Nelson Piquet Jr. himself. "The WMSC considers that offences of this severity merit permanent disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship. "However, in particular the steps taken by Renault F1 to identify and address the failings within its team and condemn the actions of the individuals involved, the WMSC has decided to suspend Renault F1's disqualification until the end of the 2011 season." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8266090.stm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orangeclement 572 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 fully deserved IMO Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chookes 21 Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 Definitely. I wasn't sure if I believed this when it first came out but Briatore and Symonds resignation quickly changed my mind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orangeclement 572 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 i was the same Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poetry_In_Blue 1,043 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 They get a suspended sentence but McLaren got hammered... The sentence doesn't fit right with me, what Renault members sanctioned, to me, was a far worse crime than just acquiring technology. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chookes 21 Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 I agree. McLaren got a £100M fine and removed from the Constructors Championship, while in 2nd place (I think, may have been 1st) losing them a wee fortune in prize money . Like the article says, Renault's decision endangered lives. McLaren got what they deserved, Renault got off lightly. Briatore and Symonds got fair punishments. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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