Crashgate, Renault F1 Team Banned

So what is all the fuss about? The World Motorsport Council has imposed a 2 year suspended ban on the Renault F1 Team from being able to run a team in the race series.

In September of last year, during the Singapore Grand Prix, Renault driver Nelson Piquet, Jr. crashed his car onto the circuits inside wall initiating a safety car situation. The other Renault driver, Fernando Alonso, went on to win the race, having been gifted a lucky break by the safety car situation.

At the time Nelson Piquet, Jr. described the crash as a simple mistake. It wasn’t until after the Hungarian Grand Prix in July 2009, that Piquet alleged that the crash was deliberate in an effort to help his team-mate Fernando Alonso to a race victory. He made the announcement shortly after being sacked by the team for poor performance.

The FIA, the Formula One governing body, started an investigation into the conspiracy and Renault were ordered to answer to the Race-fixing charges on 21st September this year. On the 16th September, the team stated they would not contest the charges and announced that Flavio Briatore, Managing Director, and Pat Symmonds, Executive Director of Engineering, had quit the team.

The FIA hearing resulted in the following: the Reanult F1 Team banned for 2 years from competing in the series with effect from the end of this season. Flavio Briatore has been banned for life from any FIA events (this includes the World Rally Championship, World Touring Cars Championship and 26 other international race series). Brit, Pat Symmonds, has been suspended for 5 years from F1 events.

Briatore also manages a number of drivers alongside Piquet, Jr: Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Heikki Kovalainen and Romain Grosjean. They have been told they will not be able to race under his management, which means negotiating new contracts with new managers.

Nelson Piquet, Jr. escaped punishment, despite admitting the race-fixing charge. He remains without a drive and unlikely to find one. Who is likely to employ a driver who is willing to crash out of a race to further his career? Sponsors are certainly not likely to support him either.

As the driver´s championship hots up for the last few races of the season, it appears the Crashgate saga has already been put behind the sport. But how many scandals can one sport handle?

published: 23/09/2009