F1: Renault gets two-year suspended sentence
An acceptance of guilt by Renault over the Singapore Grand Prix race-fixing scandal saved the manufacturer from exclusion from Formula One.
The team was given a two-year suspended ban after it decided not to contest the charges which were heard at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris today.
The governing body said the team was guilty of an offence of 'unparalleled severity' after causing a deliberate crash in last year's Singapore event but decided to suspend the ban for two seasons because Renault admitted its guilt.
The scandal unfolded after Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds instructed driver Nelson Piquet to crash on purpose in order to help fellow driver Fernando Alonso secure victory at the 2008 race.
A statement from the FIA said: 'Renault F1's breaches 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 considers that offences of this severity merit permanent disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship.
'However, having regard to the points in mitigation mentioned above and in particular the steps taken by Renault F1 to identify and address the failings within its team and condemn the actions of the individuals involved, the WMSC has decided to suspend Renault F1's disqualification until the end of the 2011 season. The World Motor Sport Council will only activate this disqualification if Renault F1 is found guilty of a comparable breach during that time.'
The FIA, however, effectively banned Briatore from any involvement in motor sport and in its statement added: 'It also hereby instructs all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Briatore access to any areas under the FIA's jurisdiction.'
Symonds faces a similar ban for a period of five years - and will not be allowed at FIA-sanctioned events.
Piquet himself apologised to the FIA but receives no punishment after he was offered immunity in exchange for providing information about the incident. The FIA ruled that Alonso was not involved.
F1: Renault gets two-year suspended sentence - Latest Car News from 4Car
The team was given a two-year suspended ban after it decided not to contest the charges which were heard at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris today.
The governing body said the team was guilty of an offence of 'unparalleled severity' after causing a deliberate crash in last year's Singapore event but decided to suspend the ban for two seasons because Renault admitted its guilt.
The scandal unfolded after Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds instructed driver Nelson Piquet to crash on purpose in order to help fellow driver Fernando Alonso secure victory at the 2008 race.
A statement from the FIA said: 'Renault F1's breaches 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 considers that offences of this severity merit permanent disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship.
'However, having regard to the points in mitigation mentioned above and in particular the steps taken by Renault F1 to identify and address the failings within its team and condemn the actions of the individuals involved, the WMSC has decided to suspend Renault F1's disqualification until the end of the 2011 season. The World Motor Sport Council will only activate this disqualification if Renault F1 is found guilty of a comparable breach during that time.'
The FIA, however, effectively banned Briatore from any involvement in motor sport and in its statement added: 'It also hereby instructs all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Briatore access to any areas under the FIA's jurisdiction.'
Symonds faces a similar ban for a period of five years - and will not be allowed at FIA-sanctioned events.
Piquet himself apologised to the FIA but receives no punishment after he was offered immunity in exchange for providing information about the incident. The FIA ruled that Alonso was not involved.
F1: Renault gets two-year suspended sentence - Latest Car News from 4Car
