Renault race-fixing at Singapore 2008

[Saribro]

is anyone else concerned that the FOM won't even let you watch the crash for yourself on youtube?

FOM won't let you watch any F1 on youtube, they just haven't found all of it yet. (and perhaps some of the older footage is not under their control (...yet))

[Callum]

Autosport update - Renault summoned by FIA's WMSC

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78321

[axle]

I don't think the FIA would summon Renault without some form of evidence...much as I agree with the logic about it being too far fetched and relying on too many other things...can there really be smoke without fire?

Maybe Renault went for a hat full of points and lucked into the win instead?

[timbo]

I think we could dig deeper and uncover Jordan/Renault plot on giving Fisico win in Brazil 2003.

Seriously though, a race ban with no precedent (later retracted but anyway) and now this. A coincidence?

[Motornic]

If the FIA had unassailable proof in hand, it would be over by now. They could have a high degree of suspicious but circumstancial evidence. By summoning team members the would be trying to coerce an inconsistant statement and burn them for lying but not fixing a race outcome. Similar to Lewis Hamilton's plight earlier this season.

Who knows? But until they actually publish something concrete, it's just a kangaroo court.

[timbo]

It's also interesting to me that extraordinary meeting takes place more than two weeks from now. Although that may be bureaucratic procedure...

[WhiteBlue]

Being summond to an extraordinary meeting of the WMSC is not a thing you want to happen to you as an F1 team. They do not convene without a reason and there must be some serious facts to consider. It is now a question of how much the PTB want to keep Renault in F1. They may find a scape goat and unload all the manure over the poor fellow.

[xpensive]

What is reason or not seems to be decided solely by MrM, as is seriousness and punishment for each "offence".

This can also shift from time to time depending on the teams status with the FIA. Two years ago McLaren was slammed for spying, while Flavio's team got away with murder in a rather similar scenario.

[WhiteBlue]

Xpensive, do you suggest that race fixing by ordering a 1B driver to crash deliberately to help 1A is not a serious sporting offense? That is obviously what is going to be the issue the WMSC will be dealing with. In similar circumstances the the teams concerned have usually thrown themselves at the mercy of the tribunal. They wouldn't do this unless their case is desperate. In return the responsible team principals have never been personally criticised. If Renault pleads guilty I expect that the buck will not be made to stop at Flavio's desk. Some other poor soul will have to take the blame but an agreement may be made for him to shift his activities to fields outside the sport after a suitable time. His health will take a serious downturn or football will take all his attentention in a years time. Speculation, of course, but not without precedent.

[xpensive]

Did I actually write something to that effect? Think not.

[WhiteBlue]

Did I actually write something to that effect? Think not.

No, you didn't. But you seemed to suggest that the WMSC agenda and decision making isn't consistent with regard to the gravity of the transgression. Others have spoken of a "kangaroo court". Such criticism is a bit harsh for my taste. It isn't an easy job for the WMSC to govern F1 and I thought they did not do such a bad job the last years.

[jason.parker.86]

R.I.P Renault...

I can not see for the life of me how Renault planned to keep this "under wraps"... and why they did it? It wasnt like they was in the hunt for the WDC...

In any case - I think the facts must be pritty strong for them to call them to Paris. I dontk now how this case would compare against McLaren, as what Renault have done is basically put peoples lives at risk, and also Fraud in terms of taking money for champtionship points they did not deserve.

In my opinion, Fernando seems to cause trouble where ever he goes? If I were Ferrari I would ditch him... Seems to me that he is that hell bent on winnning!

[Miguel]

In my opinion, Fernando seems to cause trouble where ever he goes? If I were Ferrari I would ditch him... Seems to me that he is that hell bent on winnning!

As we all know, it was Fernando who started bullying and threatening certain Ferrari members in order to get privileged information from them and start Stepneygate. No other McLaren employee, engineer or not, safe Pedro, knew anything. Furthermore, as things were starting to turn hot inside the team, it was Fernando himself who gave the Ferrari dossier to Coughlan's wife and told her to photocopy it at the nearest print office. Why did she do that? He promised her he would divorce his wife and go with Coughlan's wife to the Seychelles after a 3rd WDC had been secured.

We've also heard the story of a junior member tampering with the Benneton fuel rig in 1994. It was Fernando himself, working extra hours as a 12 year old (German GP took place before his birthday) in order to rise in the karting order.

Again, the McLaren engineer that brought data from McLaren to Renault was also promised gold, happiness and a wonderful flat in Gijon*, on the shoreline. He didn't even want to leave McLaren, but the threatening eyes of the cheating spanish ace were too menacing.

Finally, the midnight between 27 and 28 of September 2008 at Singapore, a disgruntled Fernando Alonso met in a dark underground room, where water leaks were the only thing to be heard, Pat Symonds, Flavio Briatore, Nelson Piquet Jr. and the respective race engineers and told them one single thing:

You broke my fuel pump in Q2!!!!!!! Only one sacrifice of the victory virgin Nelsinho wil placate my wraith!!!!!

I will be short-fueled, and one lap after I pit, Nelson will recieve the key radio message "push hard". At that time, Piquet will push his car hard against the wall.

My wishes are your command.

After he left the dark underground room, the Renault representatives realised they were not alone. Once their eyes were used to darkness, they could percieve the glowing eyes of the "Crazy 88". And Uma Thurman wasn't in asia to save ther bottoms.

* Note to non spaniards: Gijon and Oviedo are two very close Asturian cities, about 30 km away, and they have a strong rivalry. Fernando was born in Oviedo.

[kilcoo316]

But you seemed to suggest that the WMSC agenda and decision making isn't consistent with regard to the gravity of the transgression.

What transgression?


If you've unrefutable proof of a transgression, lets hear the evidence, or maybe you should take the evidence to the WMC.


There has been no transgressions of anything yet. All there is at the moment is allegations.

[WhiteBlue]

If you've unrefutable proof of a transgression, lets hear the evidence, or maybe you should take the evidence to the WMC.

Please observe the context. I was talking about historical decisions and not the Renault case.