Renault race-fixing at Singapore 2008

[Rob W]

The punishment is pretty ludicrous really.

Basically, because F1 teams are under the parent company microscope (this year owing to the financial crisis), and F1 doesn't want one of the marquee teams bailing them, Renault haven't been fined.

A fine is completely justified imo. It was a serious fraud which affected the sporting result, it endangered spectators and staff, and earned Renault gobal plaudits (for the win) and sponsorship clout in the order of tens of millions of dollars.

It also doesn't cover the fact they earned points fraudulently which meant x millions of dollars from F1 money pool to the direct detriment of other, smaller teams.

I hope the affected teams and the Singapore Grand Prix organisers pursue Renault for financial damages over this.

[BreezyRacer]

No sanctioning FOREVER! No Driver agent FOREVER! Bye bye!

"As regards Mr. Briatore, 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."

[mach11]

with the evidence that was given to the WMSC i guess they have come up with the right verdict....

[i70q7m7ghw]

The way I understood the punishment on McLaren was that the whole spy-gate thing was going on inside their team and they (apparently) had no knowledge of it. The punishment appeared to be for the negligence.

The same must be applied to Renault, how could nobody have known about this? Nobody knew about Falvio's treatment of Nelson and any of the other things going on? I don't believe that.

The punishment of Briatore and Symonds is well justified. The lack of punishment on the team for being negligent and allowing such things to happening at the highest level inside their own organization is just plain outrageous.

[astracrazy]

Very disappointed.

For cheating at the highest level, influencing race results, fraud (in terms of taking money for winning the race, there finish in constructors etc) and endangering fans, drivers, marshals etc.

Renault are a team, they win and lose as a team and so should be punished as a team. I fail to see how nobody knew about this apart from 3 people.

just getting rid or the people responsible i do not accept is good enough. That seems to be the story of 2009 - get rid of the people responsible and we will be ok.

Renault should have been highly punished to stop other teams attempting this in the future!

[Chaparral]

Max got Flavio, nothing else mattered to him.

The rest is just window dressing.

Im pretty sure we havent heard the last of this and theres much more to the sad soap opera saga - what a wank

[modbaraban]

I'm dissapointed as too. Clearly Renault F1 Team and Neson Angelo Piquet should've been punushed accordingly.

[PNSD]

You can not condemn a team of 600 for the actions of 3 very stupid individuals.

They all came forwared and confessed the crime, it was proved no other member was involved, so why risk the jobs of many because of something they had no idea about until we all did!

This punishment is fair. Anything to induce Renault to leave would be bad.

modbaraban, what is the difference between what Neslon did and what Schumacher did in 94 and 97? Apart from the fact that Schumacher got another driver involved in his incidents? They could have been much worse, as with Nelson, could have been much worse but they werent.

[Vasco]

I wonder if he will still be able to hold on to that model wife of his after this.

[tarzoon]

McMerc fired Mike Coughlan and still got a huge fine...

True that here the biggest piece of evidence is in the telemetry. PS said to the WMSC that it was against a pilot's instinct to accelerate with the car out of control, but then again we are talking about the telemetry of NPjr, not of an F1 driver.

[vall]

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.

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.

So, PS admits they did it, Flav denies? It seems that PS' confessed? I am curious to see the full documentation. Anyway, the only reason for this "punishment" could only be that FIA thinks it was only the trio's fault and no one else from Renault was involved.....

[James_graham]

I have to agree, to punish the whole team would leave many people without a job, suppliers as well so it is the correct course of action I feel. Maybe force renault to pay back the money they won last year

[modbaraban]

So... would it be alright if they used other words, like er 'very severe'? Would it stop you from creating topics in seizure? What's your point?

[vall]

McMerc fired Mike Coughlan and still got a huge fine...

I think it was not only that. They found that the Ferrari information reached the 2008 car's development team, etc. Max recently said that they found some e-mail exchanges.

[mcdenife]

with the evidence that was given to the WMSC i guess they have come up with the right verdict....

The only evidence available was the telemetry and NP's statement. Renault did not contest, in effect they admit culpability but not guilt.

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."

What evidence and how can this be justice?