F1: New Details Emerge in Renault Investigation

Formula 1

F1: New Details Emerge in Renault Investigation

Several new and interesting details of the FIA investigation into an alleged intentional crash emerged Thursday...

SPEED Staff / GMM | Posted September 10, 2009 Monza (ITA)

According to reports, the crash was discussed in a pre-race meeting with Flavio Briatore (Left) and Pat Symonds (Right). (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Several new and interesting details of the FIA investigation into an alleged intentional crash at last year's Singapore Grand Prix by former Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. emerged Thursday.

The accusation that Renault instructed Piquet to crash on purpose did originate from the now-ousted Brazilian driver, it is reported.

Reports in British newspapers including the Mirror and the Times claim Piquet informed the FIA that he agreed to the race-fixing.

The crash was reportedly discussed in a pre-race meeting with Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds - but not Fernando Alonso - and agreed by Piquet because he thought it might result in a new contract for 2009.

FIA investigators were also informed by Piquet that Symonds, Renault's veteran engineering director, told the 23-year-old driver specifically that the crash should occur on lap 13 or 14 to activate Alonso's race strategy.

Turn 17 was selected as the crash site reportedly because the lack of nearby cranes would mean removal of the damaged car would be difficult and deployment of the safety car therefore more likely.

Documents lodged in reply to the accusations by Briatore and Symonds confirm the pre-race meeting but Symonds insists it was Piquet who suggested the crash be staged during the "conversation".

The Times newspaper said Briatore, who in his submission reportedly completely denies the charges, is likening the situation - with Piquet's father believed to have been the first to contact Max Mosley with the claims in late July - to "extortion".

It is also reported that, a few days after his last race for Renault in Hungary, Piquet Jr traveled to Paris to lodge the accusations in writing with the FIA.

There was also a repot that Symonds told Piquet to "be careful" before the allegedly deliberate crash and Briatore said "thank you" to the Brazilian driver after the incident helped Fernando Alonso win the inaugural night race.

The information emerged on Thursday not in the form of unsubstantiated gossip in the Monza paddock or a published report, but a formalized statement to the FIA given by the sacked Renault driver Piquet on July 30.

A signed copy of the document was scanned and published by the website F1SA.com.

Piquet, 23, said he agreed to engineering boss Symonds and manager Briatore's request due to his "fragile and emotional state of mind" and the hope the favor would result in a new contract for 2010.

The Brazilian driver told chief steward Alan Donnelly and investigators from the firm Quest that neither of his bosses discussed the safety of fellow drivers and members of the public, except for Symonds' brief "be careful".

It was reported at the time that the crash, caused Piquet explained in the statement by him accelerating when he should have been braking, resulted in him receiving a blow on the head that he had to have checked by doctors.

He said even his own race engineer did not know about the pre-meditated crash, but that the engineer as well as several journalists had questioned him about the "unusual" incident.

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SPEED Staff / GMM

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