FIA investigating deliberate crash to promote Alonso to race win
09-10-2009, 01:24 PM
#78
Formula One Spin Doctor
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09-10-2009, 01:33 PM
#79
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Uh huh..... Denial......
Alonso 'very surprised' at scandal reports
10 September 2009
Fernando Alonso has said that he is astonished by the reports on Thursday that claim Renault management developed a plan with Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in last year's Singapore Grand Prix. The reports say that the Brazilian was asked to crash on purpose to allow Alonso a chance for victory.
Piquet's crash on Lap 14 of the night race led to the instant deployment of the Safety Car, which subsequently handed the lead of the race to Alonso after the Spaniard had pitted several minutes before. Claims on Thursday, however, suggest that Renault Team Principal Flavio Briatore met with both Executive Director of Engineering Pat Symonds and driver Piquet to discuss the scenario before the race.
"I am very surprised," Alonso explained to a mass crowd of reporters in Italy. "I cannot imagine this situation so, as I said, I am surprised and it is time to think about another job because I am not spending any more time on this. We're at Monza for the next Grand Prix.
"I will not comment too much about this, as the team has said that we will not comment; for me, it is not even the time to think or pay attention to that because it's difficult to understand the situation and this investigation. It's just another day and I'm trying to prepare for the Monza race and to get a good result here."
The former double Champion did make his point clear, however, that he both was unaware of and not involved with the alleged talks. "No," the Spaniard said plainly, "but Flavio has been always a nice boss - he is a friend and a boss and has supported my career since the Minardi times."
Alonso 'very surprised' at scandal reports
10 September 2009
Fernando Alonso has said that he is astonished by the reports on Thursday that claim Renault management developed a plan with Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in last year's Singapore Grand Prix. The reports say that the Brazilian was asked to crash on purpose to allow Alonso a chance for victory.
Piquet's crash on Lap 14 of the night race led to the instant deployment of the Safety Car, which subsequently handed the lead of the race to Alonso after the Spaniard had pitted several minutes before. Claims on Thursday, however, suggest that Renault Team Principal Flavio Briatore met with both Executive Director of Engineering Pat Symonds and driver Piquet to discuss the scenario before the race.
"I am very surprised," Alonso explained to a mass crowd of reporters in Italy. "I cannot imagine this situation so, as I said, I am surprised and it is time to think about another job because I am not spending any more time on this. We're at Monza for the next Grand Prix.
"I will not comment too much about this, as the team has said that we will not comment; for me, it is not even the time to think or pay attention to that because it's difficult to understand the situation and this investigation. It's just another day and I'm trying to prepare for the Monza race and to get a good result here."
The former double Champion did make his point clear, however, that he both was unaware of and not involved with the alleged talks. "No," the Spaniard said plainly, "but Flavio has been always a nice boss - he is a friend and a boss and has supported my career since the Minardi times."
09-10-2009, 01:53 PM
#81
Formula One Spin Doctor
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Uh huh..... Denial......
Alonso 'very surprised' at scandal reports
10 September 2009
Fernando Alonso has said that he is astonished by the reports on Thursday that claim Renault management developed a plan with Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in last year's Singapore Grand Prix. The reports say that the Brazilian was asked to crash on purpose to allow Alonso a chance for victory.
Piquet's crash on Lap 14 of the night race led to the instant deployment of the Safety Car, which subsequently handed the lead of the race to Alonso after the Spaniard had pitted several minutes before. Claims on Thursday, however, suggest that Renault Team Principal Flavio Briatore met with both Executive Director of Engineering Pat Symonds and driver Piquet to discuss the scenario before the race.
"I am very surprised," Alonso explained to a mass crowd of reporters in Italy. "I cannot imagine this situation so, as I said, I am surprised and it is time to think about another job because I am not spending any more time on this. We're at Monza for the next Grand Prix.
"I will not comment too much about this, as the team has said that we will not comment; for me, it is not even the time to think or pay attention to that because it's difficult to understand the situation and this investigation. It's just another day and I'm trying to prepare for the Monza race and to get a good result here."
The former double Champion did make his point clear, however, that he both was unaware of and not involved with the alleged talks. "No," the Spaniard said plainly, "but Flavio has been always a nice boss - he is a friend and a boss and has supported my career since the Minardi times."
Alonso 'very surprised' at scandal reports
10 September 2009
Fernando Alonso has said that he is astonished by the reports on Thursday that claim Renault management developed a plan with Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in last year's Singapore Grand Prix. The reports say that the Brazilian was asked to crash on purpose to allow Alonso a chance for victory.
Piquet's crash on Lap 14 of the night race led to the instant deployment of the Safety Car, which subsequently handed the lead of the race to Alonso after the Spaniard had pitted several minutes before. Claims on Thursday, however, suggest that Renault Team Principal Flavio Briatore met with both Executive Director of Engineering Pat Symonds and driver Piquet to discuss the scenario before the race.
"I am very surprised," Alonso explained to a mass crowd of reporters in Italy. "I cannot imagine this situation so, as I said, I am surprised and it is time to think about another job because I am not spending any more time on this. We're at Monza for the next Grand Prix.
"I will not comment too much about this, as the team has said that we will not comment; for me, it is not even the time to think or pay attention to that because it's difficult to understand the situation and this investigation. It's just another day and I'm trying to prepare for the Monza race and to get a good result here."
The former double Champion did make his point clear, however, that he both was unaware of and not involved with the alleged talks. "No," the Spaniard said plainly, "but Flavio has been always a nice boss - he is a friend and a boss and has supported my career since the Minardi times."
Schumacher himself told a German newspaper one week ago that he might quit Benetton if he finds out the trouble-plagued team knowingly broke rules behind his back.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/m...e-1448790.html
I cannot understand this...
cheating in club racing now cheating in F1 what is this world coming to , what's next Ninja loans ...
09-10-2009, 01:56 PM
#82
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Does anyone else hear the record skipping? Same 'ol tired story and deflections. Try to stay up with current events, 'ol man. It's 2009
09-10-2009, 01:58 PM
#83
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Help me , i have fallen I can't get up , my neck is stiff ..........................
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Last edited by A.Wayne; 09-10-2009 at 02:34 PM.
09-10-2009, 02:03 PM
#85
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My fellow Rennlisters, I continue to be vigilant in search of the truth. I will not let this go away. Eventhough it has been a year ago, I also continue to investigate the mysterious pass when Glock let Hamilton by on the last corner of the last lap in Brazil in 2008 and gifting him the WDC. One investigation at a time. Rome was not built in a day. In these tough times, however, I'm not afforded the budget to deputize additional investigators!
Thanks, Pete, let us know what you find! Here, I'll help your investigation. Both Toyotas were on slicks at the end of the race. Everyone else was on rain tires. It was raining.
"Mysterious pass", "let Hamilton by", "gifting him the WDC!"
Yeah, I can see you're vigilantly searching for the "truth."
09-10-2009, 02:35 PM
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But why would Renault's F1 squad have taken on such a huge risk for a win? Someone pointed out earlier in this thread that Alonso was nowhere special in the championship. I don't get the motive.
09-10-2009, 02:38 PM
#87
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Thanks, Pete, let us know what you find! Here, I'll help your investigation. Both Toyotas were on slicks at the end of the race. Everyone else was on rain tires. It was raining.
"Mysterious pass", "let Hamilton by", "gifting him the WDC!" Yeah, I can see you're vigilantly searching for the "truth."
"Mysterious pass", "let Hamilton by", "gifting him the WDC!"
Yeah, I can see you're vigilantly searching for the "truth."
09-10-2009, 06:36 PM
#89
Ironman 140.6
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Here is NP's letter on the matter....
The legal statement made to the FIA by Nelson Piquet Jr has been leaked to the F1SA website. It is not clear how this has happened but we believe that the World Council dossier has been sent out and the leak must come from one of the members.
The statement made is as follows:
I, Nelson Angelo Piquet, born July 25, 1985 in Heidelberg, Germany... say as follows:
1. Except as otherwise stated, the facts and statements contained in this Statement are based on facts and matters within my knowledge. I believe such facts and statements contained in this Statement to be true and correct. Where any facts or statements are not within my own knowledge, they are true to the best of my knowledge and belief and, where appropriate, I indicate the source of that knowledge and belief.
2. I make this Statement voluntarily to the FIA and for the purposes of allowing the FIA to exercise its supervisory and regulatory functions with regard to the FIA Formula One World Championship.
3. I am aware that there is a duty upon all participants in the FIA Formula One World Championship and all Super Licence holders to ensure the fairness and legitimacy of the Championship and I am aware that serious consequences could follow if I were to provide the FIA with any false or misleading statement.
4. I understand that my complete statement has been recorded on audio tape and that a full transcript of my audio recording will be made available to me and the FIA. The present document constitutes a summary of the main points made during my full oral statement.
5. I wish to bring the following facts to the FIA's attention.
6. During the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore, held on 28 September 2008 and counting towards the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship, I was asked by Mr. Flavio Briatore, who is both my manager and the Team Principal of the ING Renault F1 Team, and by Mr. Pat Symonds, the Technical Director of the Renault F1 Team, to deliberately crash my car in order to positively influence the performance of the ING Renault F1 Team at the event in question. I agreed to this proposal and caused my car to hit a wall and crash during lap thirteen/fourteen of the race.
7. The proposal to deliberately cause an accident was made to me shortly before the race took place, when I was summoned by Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds in Mr. Briatore's office. Mr. Symonds, in the presence of Mr. Briatore, asked me if I would be willing to sacrifice my race for the team by "causing a safety car". Every F1 race driver knows that the safety car is deployed on a track when there is an accident which leads to the track being blocked either by debris or a stationary car, and where it is difficult to recover a damaged car, as was the case here.
8. At the time of this conversation I was in a very fragile and emotional state of mind. This state of mind was brought about by intense stress due to the fact that Mr. Briatore had refused to inform me of whether or not my driver's contract would be renewed for the next racing year (2009), as is customarily the case in the middle of the year (around July or August). Instead, Mr. Briatore repeatedly requested me to sign an "option", which meant that I was not allowed to negotiate with any other teams in the meantime. He would repeatedly put pressure on me to prolong the option I had signed, and would regularly summon me into his office to discuss these renewals, even on racing days - a moment which should be a moment of concentration and relaxation before the race. This stress was accentuated by the fact that during the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore I had qualified sixteenth on the grid, so I was very insecure about my future at the Renault team. When I was asked to crash my car and cause a safety car incident in order to help the team, I accepted because I hoped that it could improve my position within the team at this critical time in the race season. At no point was I told by anyone that by agreeing to cause an incident, I would be guaranteed a renewal of my contract or any other advantage. However, in the context, I thought that it would be helpful in achieving this goal. I therefore agreed to cause the incident.
9. After the meeting with Mr. Symonds and Mr. Briatore, Mr. Symonds took me aside to a quiet corner and, using a map, pointed me to the exact corner of the track where I should crash. This corner was selected because the specific location of the track did not have any cranes that would allow a damaged car to be swiftly lifted off the track, nor did it have any side entrances to the track, which would allow a Safety Marshall to quickly move the damaged car away from the track. Therefore, it was felt that a crash in this specific position would be nearly certain to cause an obstruction on the track which would thus necessitate the deployment of a safety car in order to allow the track to be cleared and to ensure the safe continuation of the race.
10. Mr. Symonds also told me which exact lap to cause the incident upon, so that a strategy could deployed for my team-mate Mr. Fernando Alonso to refuel at the pit shortly before the deployment of the safety car, which he indeed did during lap twelve. The key to this strategy resided in the fact that the near-knowledge that the safety car would be deployed in lap thirteen/fourteen allowed the Team to start Mr. Alonso's car with an aggressive fuel strategy using a light car containing enough fuel to arrive at lap twelve, but not much more. This would allow Mr. Alonso to overtake as many (heavier) cars as possible, knowing that those cars would have difficulty catching up with him later in the race due to the later deployment of the safety car. This strategy was successful and Mr. Alonso won the 2008 Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore.
11. During these discussions, no mention was made of any concerns with respect to the security implications of this strategy, either for myself, the public or other drivers. The only comment made in this context was one by Mr. Pat Symonds who warned me to “be careful”, which I took to mean that I should not injure myself.
12. I intentionally caused the crash by letting go of control of the car just before the relevant corner. In order to make sure I would cause the incident during the correct lap, I asked my team several times via the radio to confirm the lap number, which I would not normally do. I was not injured during the accident, nor was anyone else.
13. After the discussions with Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds discussed above, the 'accident strategy' was never discussed again with either of them. Mr. Briatore discreetly said "thank you" after the end of the race, without mentioning anything further. I do not know if anyone else was aware of this strategy at the start of the race.
14. After the race I informed Mr. Felipe Vargas, a family friend and advisor, of the fact that the incident had been deliberate. Mr. Vargas further infirmed my father, Mr. Nelson Piquet, some time later.
15. After the race several journalists asked questions about the accident and asked me whether I had caused it on purpose, because they felt it was 'suspicious'.
16. In my own team, the engineer of my car questioned the nature of the incident because he found it unusual, and I replied that I had lost control of the car. I believe that a clever engineer would notice from the car's telemetry that I caused the incident on purpose as I continued accelerating, whereas a "normal" reaction would be to brake as soon as possible.
Statement of Truth
I believe and swear that the facts set out in this statement are true.
This statement was made at the FIA Headquarters in Paris on 30 July 2009 in presence of Mr. Alan Donnelly (FIA Chairman of the Stewards), Mr. Martin Smith and Mr. Jacob Marsh (both of investigations firm Quest, retained by the FIA to assist with its investigation). Notes were taken by Ms. Domenique Costesec (Sidley Austin LLP).
Signed:
Nelson Piquet Jr.
The legal statement made to the FIA by Nelson Piquet Jr has been leaked to the F1SA website. It is not clear how this has happened but we believe that the World Council dossier has been sent out and the leak must come from one of the members.
The statement made is as follows:
I, Nelson Angelo Piquet, born July 25, 1985 in Heidelberg, Germany... say as follows:
1. Except as otherwise stated, the facts and statements contained in this Statement are based on facts and matters within my knowledge. I believe such facts and statements contained in this Statement to be true and correct. Where any facts or statements are not within my own knowledge, they are true to the best of my knowledge and belief and, where appropriate, I indicate the source of that knowledge and belief.
2. I make this Statement voluntarily to the FIA and for the purposes of allowing the FIA to exercise its supervisory and regulatory functions with regard to the FIA Formula One World Championship.
3. I am aware that there is a duty upon all participants in the FIA Formula One World Championship and all Super Licence holders to ensure the fairness and legitimacy of the Championship and I am aware that serious consequences could follow if I were to provide the FIA with any false or misleading statement.
4. I understand that my complete statement has been recorded on audio tape and that a full transcript of my audio recording will be made available to me and the FIA. The present document constitutes a summary of the main points made during my full oral statement.
5. I wish to bring the following facts to the FIA's attention.
6. During the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore, held on 28 September 2008 and counting towards the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship, I was asked by Mr. Flavio Briatore, who is both my manager and the Team Principal of the ING Renault F1 Team, and by Mr. Pat Symonds, the Technical Director of the Renault F1 Team, to deliberately crash my car in order to positively influence the performance of the ING Renault F1 Team at the event in question. I agreed to this proposal and caused my car to hit a wall and crash during lap thirteen/fourteen of the race.
7. The proposal to deliberately cause an accident was made to me shortly before the race took place, when I was summoned by Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds in Mr. Briatore's office. Mr. Symonds, in the presence of Mr. Briatore, asked me if I would be willing to sacrifice my race for the team by "causing a safety car". Every F1 race driver knows that the safety car is deployed on a track when there is an accident which leads to the track being blocked either by debris or a stationary car, and where it is difficult to recover a damaged car, as was the case here.
8. At the time of this conversation I was in a very fragile and emotional state of mind. This state of mind was brought about by intense stress due to the fact that Mr. Briatore had refused to inform me of whether or not my driver's contract would be renewed for the next racing year (2009), as is customarily the case in the middle of the year (around July or August). Instead, Mr. Briatore repeatedly requested me to sign an "option", which meant that I was not allowed to negotiate with any other teams in the meantime. He would repeatedly put pressure on me to prolong the option I had signed, and would regularly summon me into his office to discuss these renewals, even on racing days - a moment which should be a moment of concentration and relaxation before the race. This stress was accentuated by the fact that during the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore I had qualified sixteenth on the grid, so I was very insecure about my future at the Renault team. When I was asked to crash my car and cause a safety car incident in order to help the team, I accepted because I hoped that it could improve my position within the team at this critical time in the race season. At no point was I told by anyone that by agreeing to cause an incident, I would be guaranteed a renewal of my contract or any other advantage. However, in the context, I thought that it would be helpful in achieving this goal. I therefore agreed to cause the incident.
9. After the meeting with Mr. Symonds and Mr. Briatore, Mr. Symonds took me aside to a quiet corner and, using a map, pointed me to the exact corner of the track where I should crash. This corner was selected because the specific location of the track did not have any cranes that would allow a damaged car to be swiftly lifted off the track, nor did it have any side entrances to the track, which would allow a Safety Marshall to quickly move the damaged car away from the track. Therefore, it was felt that a crash in this specific position would be nearly certain to cause an obstruction on the track which would thus necessitate the deployment of a safety car in order to allow the track to be cleared and to ensure the safe continuation of the race.
10. Mr. Symonds also told me which exact lap to cause the incident upon, so that a strategy could deployed for my team-mate Mr. Fernando Alonso to refuel at the pit shortly before the deployment of the safety car, which he indeed did during lap twelve. The key to this strategy resided in the fact that the near-knowledge that the safety car would be deployed in lap thirteen/fourteen allowed the Team to start Mr. Alonso's car with an aggressive fuel strategy using a light car containing enough fuel to arrive at lap twelve, but not much more. This would allow Mr. Alonso to overtake as many (heavier) cars as possible, knowing that those cars would have difficulty catching up with him later in the race due to the later deployment of the safety car. This strategy was successful and Mr. Alonso won the 2008 Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore.
11. During these discussions, no mention was made of any concerns with respect to the security implications of this strategy, either for myself, the public or other drivers. The only comment made in this context was one by Mr. Pat Symonds who warned me to “be careful”, which I took to mean that I should not injure myself.
12. I intentionally caused the crash by letting go of control of the car just before the relevant corner. In order to make sure I would cause the incident during the correct lap, I asked my team several times via the radio to confirm the lap number, which I would not normally do. I was not injured during the accident, nor was anyone else.
13. After the discussions with Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds discussed above, the 'accident strategy' was never discussed again with either of them. Mr. Briatore discreetly said "thank you" after the end of the race, without mentioning anything further. I do not know if anyone else was aware of this strategy at the start of the race.
14. After the race I informed Mr. Felipe Vargas, a family friend and advisor, of the fact that the incident had been deliberate. Mr. Vargas further infirmed my father, Mr. Nelson Piquet, some time later.
15. After the race several journalists asked questions about the accident and asked me whether I had caused it on purpose, because they felt it was 'suspicious'.
16. In my own team, the engineer of my car questioned the nature of the incident because he found it unusual, and I replied that I had lost control of the car. I believe that a clever engineer would notice from the car's telemetry that I caused the incident on purpose as I continued accelerating, whereas a "normal" reaction would be to brake as soon as possible.
Statement of Truth
I believe and swear that the facts set out in this statement are true.
This statement was made at the FIA Headquarters in Paris on 30 July 2009 in presence of Mr. Alan Donnelly (FIA Chairman of the Stewards), Mr. Martin Smith and Mr. Jacob Marsh (both of investigations firm Quest, retained by the FIA to assist with its investigation). Notes were taken by Ms. Domenique Costesec (Sidley Austin LLP).
Signed:
Nelson Piquet Jr.
09-10-2009, 06:42 PM
#90
Ironman 140.6
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More....
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
More ugliness in F1
Stories are now emerging about the defence being planned by Renault F1 against the claims that the team conspired to fix the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. The information, clearly from a leak, suggest that the team will blame Nelson Piquet for coming up with the idea. The claims have been published by Autosport and suggest that there was a meeting between team boss Flavio Briatore, engineering executive Pat Symonds and Piquet on the Sunday in Singapore, at which the idea was discusssed. Symonds apparently claims that it was Piquet's idea, but Briatore is reported to have said that nothing of the kind was discussed. The story also suggests that Nelson Piquet Sr contacted the FIA President Max Mosley on the day of the Hungarian GP to inform him of the alleged conspiracy. Piquet Jr went to Paris a few days later and made a statement about events to FIA consultant Alan Donnelly and investigators from Quest. After that the three Singapore stewards and two investigators from Quest went to the Belgium GP and interviewed Renault staff.
The magazine says that Briatore is claiming that he is "a victim of extortion by the Piquet Family". Extortion is a criminal offense which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services through coercion. It is not clear what Briatore thinks that the Piquets have gained, but the suggestion is a further indication of the ugliness that surrounds the claims.
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns21797.html
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
More ugliness in F1
Stories are now emerging about the defence being planned by Renault F1 against the claims that the team conspired to fix the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. The information, clearly from a leak, suggest that the team will blame Nelson Piquet for coming up with the idea. The claims have been published by Autosport and suggest that there was a meeting between team boss Flavio Briatore, engineering executive Pat Symonds and Piquet on the Sunday in Singapore, at which the idea was discusssed. Symonds apparently claims that it was Piquet's idea, but Briatore is reported to have said that nothing of the kind was discussed. The story also suggests that Nelson Piquet Sr contacted the FIA President Max Mosley on the day of the Hungarian GP to inform him of the alleged conspiracy. Piquet Jr went to Paris a few days later and made a statement about events to FIA consultant Alan Donnelly and investigators from Quest. After that the three Singapore stewards and two investigators from Quest went to the Belgium GP and interviewed Renault staff.
The magazine says that Briatore is claiming that he is "a victim of extortion by the Piquet Family". Extortion is a criminal offense which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services through coercion. It is not clear what Briatore thinks that the Piquets have gained, but the suggestion is a further indication of the ugliness that surrounds the claims.
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns21797.html