September 5, 200915 yr I was afraid they might consider that, as BA Barracus said, usually when teams break the rules just their drivers are disqualified, however having an illegal car and race fixing are two different things. And if this raced was indeed fixed by Renault then effectively is changed the whole championship. Massa is my favourite driver of all time, but I'd rather see him win his title on track than be given it and it would be mightily unfair to Lewis. Luckily I can't see them nullifying the results, perhaps just Disqualifying Renault from Constructors standings as they did with McLaren in 2007. They'd do far more than that :cry: They tried to get rid of us from the 06 season so Ferrari could win. If they find us gulity, whether we are or not, the punishment will be massive
September 5, 200915 yr They'd do far more than that :cry: They tried to get rid of us from the 06 season so Ferrari could win. If they find us gulity, whether we are or not, the punishment will be massive I remember that, when they banned the Mass Dampers yeah? I was really excited at the time but I was too young to realise that it was a ploy just to close up the championship. I don't see why they should be anti-Renault. They're a big manufacturer with quite a big fan base and probably bring a lot of money to the sport.
September 5, 200915 yr I remember that, when they banned the Mass Dampers yeah? I was really excited at the time but I was too young to realise that it was a ploy just to close up the championship. I don't see why they should be anti-Renault. They're a big manufacturer with quite a big fan base and probably bring a lot of money to the sport. Yeah. They killed our Damper, yet let others keep theirs :angry: With Toyota on the verge of leaving, Renault would be the biggest manufacturer in the championship. On their own i think they are about 9th in the world, but when you count subsidiary Nissan's sales in they are in the top5. Renault-Nissan were so close to "merging" i.e. taking over GM during 2006 so FIA were witch hunting a company that was weeks away from becoming the largest automobile manufacturer in the world. The deal fell through, luckily because that could have killed us when they went under.
September 11, 200915 yr Author Friday, 11 September 2009 17:17 UK Renault to launch Piquet lawsuit BBC Sport News Renault say they are launching legal action against Nelson Piquet Jr and his father Nelson Piquet over race-fixing allegations made against the team. Piquet Jr has given evidence to the sport's governing body that has led to an investigation into Fernando Alonso's win at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. Renault deny claims they asked Piquet to crash to facilitate Alonso's win and have referred to a "blackmail attempt". Piquet Jr said: "Because I am telling the truth I have nothing to fear." In a statement released on Friday, Renault said the claimed blackmail attempt was in relation to "allowing Mr Piquet Jr to drive for the remainder of the 2009 season". The Brazilian was dismissed by Renault in early August and has been outspoken in his criticism of Renault team boss Flavio Briatore since he was sacked after July's Hungarian GP. Renault - who said they were also referring the matter to police in the UK - have been called to attend an extraordinary meeting of motorsport's governing body, the FIA, on 21 September to answer the race-fixing allegations. If found guilty, the team could face severe sanctions which could include expulsion from the current F1 world championship. Briatore stressed that Renault had not commented on the case until now because the FIA had asked them not to. "I'm very confident the truth will come out... 80 or 90 per cent [confident]," he said at the Italian Grand Prix on Friday. "That is why we put forward the case. "I feel really, really upset and sad. What you see today - everything was against Renault, and there was a big damage already for us. This takes the sport into disrepute. "I feel Nelsinho is a very spolit guy, very fragile. We tried everything. All I wanted from him was only performance. "For me, it's completely unbelievable. Fernando won the race only because [Ferrari driver Felipe] Massa and [bMW's Robert] Kubica had problems. There were about seven problems that occurred. What is possible after lap 14 [when the crash occurred]?" In response to Renault's rebuttal, Piquet Jr released a statement reading: "I confirm that I have co-operated fully and honestly with the sport's governing body. "Because I am telling the truth I have nothing to fear, whether from the Renault team or Mr Briatore - and while I am well aware of the power and influence of those being investigated, and the vast resources at their disposal, I will not be bullied again into making a decision I regret." FIA president Max Mosley said on Friday that the governing body had spoken at length to Piquet Jr and were awaiting a response from Renault to a dossier they had sent to the team. "My personal reaction was to think that if this is true it's very worrying," Mosley said in an interview with BBC Sport. "But of course I know from endless experience [that] you think that's outrageous and then you hear the other side of the story and it's completely different. "As far as we're concerned they have to considered innocent until proven guilty. "I keep an open mind but if it were true it would be very serious. It could turn out that the whole story has no basis." Mosley added that Piquet has been promised immunity from being punished in return for giving evidence, as was the case when Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso gave evidence in the McLaren 'spygate' scandal in 2007. McLaren were excluded from that year's constructors' championship and fined $100m (then equivalent to £49.2m) after being found guilty of illegally possessing confidential Ferrari technical data. Mosley said: "We have said to him that, and I don't know exactly how it was phrased, but he has been told that if he tells us the truth then he will not be proceeded against individually." Reports have appeared on the internet claiming to quote extensively from Piquet's statement to the FIA. The FIA has promised to conduct an investigation to find out exactly where the information came from, while the Formula 1 Teams' Association (Fota) has criticised the leaking of information relating to the case. "Fota believes that differences within the sport should be handled in a professional manner and condemns the habit of intentionally releasing confidential documents to influence public opinion," it said in a statement. "Confidential documents should remain under the control of the competent authority." There has been speculation within F1 that the controversy is a means of removing Briatore from the sport following the row between Fota, in which he is an influential figure, and Mosley earlier this year. Brawn driver Rubens Barrichello said on Thursday: "It's very difficult to get a conclusion on this. But all I can say is that someone want's Briatore's head." But Mosley rejected those suggestions. "[Me] calling Flavio a loony is a sort of joke," he said, in a reference to a remark he made in a BBC interview at the British Grand Prix in June. "Flavio came before the end of July and we had lunch together and on a personal basis we are very friendly. If I had to choose somebody in the paddock to have as a guest he would be high on the list but that's completely separate from the question of whether this did or didn't happen. "You look at the facts unemotionally and if you are going to convict somebody you have to make sure they're guilty. Alonso won the Singapore GP in 2008 when Piquet crashed two laps after the Spaniard had come in for a routine pit stop." That meant that when race officials sent out the safety car to clear up the debris from Piquet's car, Alonso was alone among the front-runners in not having to stop for fuel and tyres. At the time, Piquet attributed the crash to a simple error. Alonso, who is currently preparing for Sunday's Italian GP, said on Thursday that he was "very surprised" by the race-fixing charge levelled at Renault. "I cannot imagine these things, these situations," he said. "It's something that never entered my mind. "For me it's not even the time to think about, or to pay attention to, this. "It's difficult to understand for me all this situation and this investigation. It is just too incredible."
September 12, 200915 yr What a bad Qualification for BMW, I don't remember when the last time BMW had a technical problem :o Pretty shocky to me :(
September 12, 200915 yr Fisichella shouldn't have moved. :( I know it's probably every Italian's dream to drive a Ferrari in the Italian GP...but he just isn't used to the way in which the Ferrari works. :( Doesn't Liuzzi qualifying 7th(???) show that he would of been better off staying at Force India???
September 12, 200915 yr He's at the end of his career and he's won Grand Prix before. Stay at Force India for a bit or race for the biggest sporting institution in his country which he's dreamed of all his life, whilst (more than likely) being paid a lot more to do so? No contest really...
September 12, 200915 yr Fisi is still a great driver. He's pretty good at overtaking, well he was in the Renault.
September 12, 200915 yr Fisi is still a great driver. He's pretty good at overtaking, well he was in the Renault. :huh: He was consistent, and still is for that matter but he's never been outstanding. I think he did as good a job as could be expected in the circumstances and he can't have thought he'd be on the pace of kimi immediately. Brilliant quali for the Brawns, heaviest of the front runners by a fair way, Heikki may prove to be a little bit of a mobile chicane but if they don't lose too much time in the first stint then hopefully they'll be battling with Lewis, Adrian and Kimi for the podium spots.
September 12, 200915 yr :huh: He was consistent, and still is for that matter but he's never been outstanding. I think he did as good a job as could be expected in the circumstances and he can't have thought he'd be on the pace of kimi immediately. when i said great i didn't mean amazingly brilliant WC worthy driver. :heehee: He's a good race driver, him and Alonso were amazingly consistant throughout a race........when Fisi wasn't introducing crash barriers to his rear wing.
September 13, 200915 yr Great race! Very exciting and we got a very strong result in the end. Both Rubens and Jenson proved they're more than worthy of being the main title contendors by keeping their heads whilst Lewis, Kimi and Sutil all made mistakes - some more costly than others. I was a little disappointed to see RedBull doing so poorly as it limits the championship contendors but then that's less people for Jens to worry about. This championship is starting to get juicy!
September 13, 200915 yr I'm glad to see Button back on form, even though I don't support him it's good to see the Champion in waiting get his first decent result since June :) 5 races in a row with a podium for Ferrari, of course I wish it was Felipe taking a podium at Monza, but nonetheless great to see Kimi back on form. I'm hoping this means Kimi and Felipe will remain at Ferrari for 2010 and that Alonso stays away :kink:
September 13, 200915 yr Author I'm hoping this means Kimi and Felipe will remain at Ferrari for 2010 and that Alonso stays away :kink: I doubt it unless Alonso is found to be in some way implicated in this ridiculous Piquet Renault car crash nonsense. Kimi will in 2010 either: a) Walk away from F1 with a one year payoff from Ferrari B) Be driving a Brawn F1 car as Button's team mate c) Be driving a McLaren F1 car as Hamilton's team mate
September 13, 200915 yr Something i read in Autosport clicked with me. 6months ago, they interviewed Piquet and asked him about Singapore, where he basically said why would i risk my life by crashing on purpose. In an actual article thing on RenaultGate they made to point of how much bad luck we've got at the mo. They mentioned that we 1] Were looking for a new title sponsor, 2] New lead driver and 3] have people back at Renault HQ questioning the continued involvement in the sport because of our recent poor form. Mosley couldn't have timed this any better. Nobody wants to sign a sponsor agreement with a team accused of race fixing, it'll damage their reputation. No amazing driver is going to sign for Renault with the race fixing allegations, even if they are dis-proven [which they bloody had better be] theres always going to be that lingering suspicion. And of course, during a recession a Auto manufacturer is going to be looking at cutting costs so they don't follow GM/Chrysler into bankruptcy, No new title sponsor, no new lead driver, and a "conviction" at the end of a 4year witch hunt is just going to make us walk. After they've cleared the Renault name of course.
September 16, 200915 yr Agreement reached on sale of BMW Sauber team BMW Sauber’s hopes of staying on the grid next season received a boost on Tuesday after BMW confirmed it has reached agreement on the sale of the team. The German car maker is pulling out of Formula One racing at the end of 2009. Qadbak Investments Ltd, a Swiss-based foundation which represents the interests of certain Middle East and European based families, has agreed to purchase the team, based in Hinwil, Switzerland. Qadbak´s interest in the team will be represented by Lionel Fischer, a Swiss national. “BMW wishes Qadbak and the Sauber Team every success for the 2010 season and beyond,” said BMW in an official statement announcing the deal. The recent uncertainty surrounding BMW Sauber’s future means they do not have a confirmed entry for next season. However, the FIA has said it will be pressing for a 14-team field in 2010, with BMW Sauber guaranteed the final slot if the necessary rule changes can be agreed. F1.com Finally! :yahoo:
September 16, 200915 yr Maybe there will be 28 drivers on grid! :o Briatore and Symonds leave Renault! http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78668 :o
September 16, 200915 yr Maybe there will be 28 drivers on grid! :o Briatore and Symonds leave Renault! http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78668 :o Not surprised if there was some kind of conspiracy for Piquet to spin out at Singapore last year. Watched the F1 2008 Review DVD yesterday and Briatore even goes to an unhappy looking Piquet, "thanks Nelson" or words to that effect on the pit wall after Alonso wins the race. May just be reading too much into it but it did seem strange knowing now what has been accused. Briatore and Symonds may have only left to save Renault's reputation though, but it is a very very strange move.
September 16, 200915 yr Maybe there will be 28 drivers on grid! :o Briatore and Symonds leave Renault! http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78668 :o -_- Wonderful, they've won. It would surprise me if Renault don't pull out by new year.
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