The Renault team, through the voices of Flavio Briatore (director) and Pat Symonds (technical director), asked Nelson Piquet Jr., then a driver, to deliberately cause an off-road incident. This action allowed Fernando Alonso, who had just refueled, to position himself behind the safety car and occupy the first place in the Grand Prix until the last lap of the race.
The FIA delivered its verdict via a statement on its website in the afternoon. Here it is below:
« During an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council held in Paris on September 21, 2009, the Renault F1 Team (‘Renault F1’) admitted that its team conspired with one of its drivers, Nelson Piquet Jr., to deliberately cause an accident in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, despite the international sporting code and the F1 sporting regulations.
Renault F1 reported during the meeting that an internal investigation had been conducted, reaching the conclusion that: Flavio Briatore, Pat Symonds, and Nelson Piquet Jr. had conspired together to cause an accident; and that no one else in the team had witnessed this conspiracy.
The FIA conducted its own investigation and its findings match those of Renault F1.
During the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, Renault F1 highlighted the following points:
– They accept, as early as they could, that they made the mistake and have fully cooperated with and assisted the FIA in its investigations.
– They confirm that Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds were involved in the conspiracy and subsequently left the team.
– They offer an unreserved apology to the FIA and to the sport in general for the damage caused by these actions.
– They plan to cover the costs incurred by the FIA for the investigation; and Renault (the parent company, to be distinguished from Renault F1) commits to supporting the development of safety-related projects alongside the FIA.
Nelson Piquet Jr. also unreservedly apologizes to the World Motor Sport Council for his responsibility in the conspiracy.
The following decisions have been made:
The World Motor Sport Council declares that Renault F1 team members; Flavio Briatore, Pat Symonds, and Nelson Piquet Jr. conspired to cause an accident during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. The World Motor Sport Council also declares that Renault F1, under Article 123 of the International Sporting Code, is responsible for the actions of its employees, in connection with Article 151(c) and point 2(c) of Chapter IV of the register, and Articles 3.2, 30.3 and/or 39.1 of the Formula 1 sporting regulations.
The World Motor Sport Council considers Renault F1’s action during the 2008 Singapore GP to be of unparalleled severity. Renault F1’s act not only compromised the integrity of the sport but also endangered the lives of spectators, officials, other competitors, and Nelson Piquet Jr. himself. The World Motor Sport Council therefore considers this offense to warrant a permanent disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship. However, in view of the points raised above and the measures taken by Renault F1 to seek out and condemn those guilty and responsible, the WMSC (World Motor Sport Council) decides to suspend Renault F1 until the end of the 2011 season. The World Motor Sport Council will only activate the sanction if similar acts are employed again by Renault F1.
Furthermore, the World Motor Sport Council acknowledges Renault F1’s apologies and orders Renault to pay the costs of the investigation. They also agree to a significant contribution to the FIA’s road safety campaigns.
Regarding Mr. Briatore, the World Motor Sport Council declares that for an indefinite period, the FIA will not authorize any participation of Mr. Briatore in any international series, events, championships, cups, trophies, or challenges. Similarly, the FIA will refuse any team license or other entity involving Mr. Briatore. This also implies that FIA officials at the mentioned events will prohibit Mr. Briatore’s presence in any of these series in the future. Furthermore, it will not be possible to renew the Super Licenses of any driver associated (through a management contract) with Mr. Briatore or any entity associated with Mr. Briatore. Such sanctions are applicable for life, punishing the fact that not only is Mr. Briatore responsible and complicit in such grave actions, but he continues to deny the facts despite the evidence.
Regarding Mr. Symonds, the World Motor Sport Council declares that for a period of five years, the FIA will not authorize any participation by Mr. Symonds in any international series, events, championships, cups, trophies, or challenges. Similarly, the FIA will refuse any team license or other entity involving Mr. Symonds. This also means that FIA officials at the stated events will prohibit Mr. Symonds’ presence at any of these series. The sanction will last five years, acknowledging the facts that Mr. Symonds participated in the conspiracy and mentioned during the meeting that it was for him an eternal regret and shame to have participated in such acts.
Regarding Mr. Piquet Jr., the World Motor Sport Council confirms his immunity from any sanction under the international sporting code related to this incident, in which the FIA clarified the matter through his volunteerism.
Regarding Fernando Alonso, the World Motor Sport Council thanks him for cooperating with the FIA investigators and attending the meeting, and concludes that Mr. Alonso was in no way involved in the Renault conspiracy case.
The World Motor Sport Council thanks the stewards and the investigation team (particularly Dorothy Cory-Wright of Sidley Austin LLP who participated in the interviews during the Belgian GP).
The full file of the verdict is revealed on the FIA’s website and available by clicking here.
