Brawn GP News

As we previously announced HERE Renault have been called before the World Motorsport council to answer charges of race fixing.  It is alleged that the team ordered Nelson Piquet to crash his car on a specific place on a specific lap, just after Alonso pitted.  The safety car lead to other teams pitting and Alonso took the lead and went on to win the race.

Nelson Piquet Jnr who has in the past publicly spoken out against Renault who he felt treated him unfairly and now he has written a statement giving his side of the story.  The statement was leaked online by F1SA and is shown below.

Amazingly he has stated that he did purposely crash as ordered by the team in order to assist Alonso.  It also reveals that a specific corner of the track was chosen where there no cranes or side entrances to the track, ensuring an obstruction and a safety car incident.

He also rights that he continually checked the lap number so as to ensure he crashed on the right lap, something he would not normally do, and he also says that telemetray analysis would show he accelerated when “loosing control” whereas the natural reaction would be to brake.

Since this statement was leaked Renault have launched criminal proceedings against Piquet,  Nelson Piquet Jnr has said

“Regarding the current FIA investigation, I confirm that I have co-operated fully and honestly with the sport’s governing body,” said Piquet.

“Because I am telling the truth I have nothing to fear, whether from the ING Renault Team or Mr Briatore, and whilst I am well aware of the power and influence of those being investigated, and the vast resources at their disposal, I will not be bullied again into making a decision I regret.

“I have every confidence in the FIA investigation and World Motor Sport Council and I will be making no further comment until the conclusion of the hearing of 21 September 2009.”

FIA president Max Mosley said on Friday that Piquet had been told he would not be punished for his role in the affair provided the evidence he supplied was truthful.

Alonso said on Thursday at the Italian Grand Prix.  “I’m very surprised, I cannot imagine these things, these situations. It’s something that never entered my mind.”

Renault have been called before the World Motorsport council over the charges of race fixing.

At last year’s Singapore Grand Prix Alonso had a terrible qualifying starting the race in 15th place, a position that prior to this race no one has ever won from.  He started the race strongly moving forwards a few places but the leaders had got away.  He came in early for a pit stop and just two laps later Nelson Piquet crashed causing the safety car to come out.

Many drivers were short on fuel and were forced to either pit when the pitlane was closed or pit soon after it opened which lead to Alonso who had already pitted taking the lead and going on to win the race.

Now evidence has come to light that Renualt ordered Piquet to crash causing the Safety car to come out to Alonso’s advantage.  They have been called before the World Motorsport Council on Monday, 21 September 2009.

FIA Press Release

The FIA press release reads

Representatives of ING Renault F1 have been requested to appear before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Monday, 21 September 2009.

The team representatives have been called to answer charges, including a breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code, that the team conspired with its driver, Nelson Piquet Jr, 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 Response

The Renault team have not commented on the charges, simply stating

The ING Renault F1 Team acknowledges the FIA’s request for representatives of the team to appear before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on the 21st of September 2009. Before attending the hearing, the team will not make any further comment.

Bernie Ecclestone’s view

Bernie Ecclestone was quoted in the Times saying this may force Renault to quit Formula One

“This is not the sort of thing we need at the moment,” said Ecclestone, who has seen Honda sell up last year and BMW announce that it is leaving Formula One at the end of this season. “I think it will p*** off Renault for a start. Them leaving the sport is a danger, obviously. I mean, I hope that it isn’t like that, but it’s the sort of thing that might happen.”