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• FIA confirms investigation but refuses to divulge details
• Enquiries thought to centre on Renault actions in night race

Formula One could face a new cheating scandal after the FIA revealed tonight that it has launched an investigation regarding a previous Formula One race result.

It is understood motor sport's world governing body is looking into the events of last season's inaugural Singapore grand prix. The race, which made history as it was the first night event run under floodlights, was won by Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso.

The investigation is understood to be focusing on the crash on lap 14 involving Alonso's then team-mate Nelson Piquet, who was axed by the French manufacturer last month following a string of poor results. The circumstances of that incident are now believed to be under invesitigation even though the FIA tonight refused to specifically divulge either the race concerned or the circumstances that have resulted in them making its enquiries.

Following today's Belgian grand prix an FIA spokesperson said: "The FIA can confirm that an investigation is under way regarding alleged events at a previous world championship race."

The investigation will carefully consider the timing of the crash, which happened just two laps after Alonso had gambled on taking an early refuelling pitstop. Piquet was not hurt in the incident but the safety car was brought on to the race track, which was littered with debris.

"It was my mistake," Piquet said after the race. "We tried two extreme strategies with Fernando quite short and me quite long in the hope of getting a safety car. If I hadn't crashed, I would have been lucky with the safety car later in the race. We're always scraping the walls and once you've touched the wall a little too much and lose control, that's it."

Formula One's reputation has already been tarnished this season after McLaren's reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton and members of his team were revealed as having lied to stewards at the Australian grand prix.Formula OneMotor sport
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Cheating scandal rocks Formula One as FIA investigates Singapore result was originally published by Sport: Motor sport | guardian.co.uk. Read the full story by clicking here.