Renault accept race-fixing charge as disgraced Flavio Briatore is forced out of F1
Apoligies are in order for Piquet Jr.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/for...team-boss.html
Renault accept race-fixing charge as disgraced Flavio Briatore is forced out of F1 By Jonathan McEvoy Last updated at 1:46 AM on 17th September 2009
Comments (1) Add to My Stories Flavio Briatore left Formula One as a disgraced outcast after Renault decided they would not defend him against race-fixing charges.
TEAM PRINCIPAL FLAVIO Briatore has been relieved of his Renault team principal duties. He was in over-arching control of the Formula One team, which he ran for team owners Renault - the French car manufacturing giant
The team principal and his No 2, Pat Symonds, were effectively sacked after an internal probe into last year's Singapore Grand Prix, which found they asked Nelson Piquet Jnr to stage a crash to help their star driver Fernando Alonso take victory.
Hitting the skids: Flavio Briatore is leaving Renault as team boss
More time with the family: Briatore with his wife Elisabetta Gregoraci at the Venice Film Festival recently
Renault said: 'The team will not dispute recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. It also wishes to state that Flavio Briatore, and executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team. Before attending the FIA World Motor Sport Council, the team will not make any further comment.'
There is now the question over whether Briatore who co-owns QPR, could be forced out of football if he is banned from motor racing by the WMSC on Monday.
Football League rules do not allow someone expelled from another sport to be a club director under their 'fit and proper' persons test.
However, the FIA were last night unsure if rules allow them to ban Briatore.
Either way, he is unlikely to be part of the F1 paddock again, though it remains to be seen how he will be stopped from being a driver manager.
Probe: Allegations of race-fixing centre on Nelson Piquet Jnr's crash at the Singapore Grand Prix last September
Claims: Nelson Piquet Jnr
He has Renault's double world champion, Fernando Alonso, on his books.
Renault's decision not to contest the charges was described by an insider as 'the least worst' outcome for the sport and their willingness to cut ties with Briatore, 59, is seen as a sign they will continue in Grand Prix racing.
That is a boost for a grid rocked by Honda's withdrawal and BMW's announced departure.
The focus now turns to a WMSC meeting in Paris chaired by FIA president Max Mosley.
Officials will try to strike a balance - punishing the team for a serious and dangerous act of cheating, but also taking account of the steps to clear up the mess by dismissing their two most senior F1 bosses. A fine or a ban, which could be suspended, is expected.
Centre of attention: Flavio Briatore was never far from the headlines as Renault boss
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/for...#ixzz0RK9DhMPM
*********Interesting bit of telemetry:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009...laone-renault1
The rear wheels are spinning so I apply more throttle. Perhaps NPJ wanted to audition for Eldora.
Video of crash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZrCVbU6pWQ
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