And a certain Mr Briatore has gone....

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula 1 | Briatore out over Renault fix row

And a Mr Symonds.

This could spell the end for Renault in F1 and really shake up the driver situation.

Renault gone? Never mind!

wow. and like, wow again.

Potentially very bad for those employed by Renault F1 here in the UK.

While i hate to be pedantic, 'race fixing' would imply the other teams also got involved - there were other teams out there and while they did have to stop, it wasn/t beyond them to have a fighting chance of getting the win.

This seems more a case (albeit extreme) of 'unsporting conduct' and 'bringing F1 into disrepute' which is, iirc, what the FIA knobbled McLaren on the other year.

Whichever way you slice it, the fact that Briatore and symonds have both 'ducked out the back' before the FIA meeting, does say it all.

Not surprising really.

Piquet would have to have deep pockets to have made such a wild claim if untrue. Read somewhere a journalist spoke to him at the time, Piquet came clean with guilt, journo told him to keep his mouth shut for his own sake.

But after Flav sacking and publicly slating and sacking Piquet, what did he think he'd do? Keep quiet?

To keep it all "in house" you'd have thought they'd have kept Piquet to stop him blabbing. Feel sorry for Pat Symonds who is a nice guy but Flav should have known better after McLarengate. Wonder what Mr Brundle will have to say on Sunday next ?

You also have the works enginegate saga which hasnt boiled over yet. As in why are the redbull engines have failed more than Renault team ones.

Christian Horner hinted the team werent happy when James Allen interviewed him last weekend and want Merc engines like everyone else.

I cant see Renault staying in now. They likely get all points stripped and fined heavily, opening to door for an exit and Sauber getting their grid slot back for 2010.

Christian Horner hinted the team werent happy when James Allen interviewed him last weekend and want Merc engines like everyone else.

Think you mean Martin Brundle. James Allen went long ago.

Think you mean Martin Brundle. James Allen went long ago.

Meant Ted

I would be extremely suprised if we ever see Renault competing in F1 ever again, and certainly not for the rest of this season as a minimum.

Probably the biggest and most digusting scandal to hit the F1 circus of all time.

Ansolutey appauling, and I hope they have the entire book and all its associated manuals thrown at them.

From another Forum,

Hmm. Briatore arranging a driver to crash?

Totally changing the subject, does anyone recall Schumacher driving into Hill in 95 and Villeneuve in 97 when driving for Benetton? And of course, also totally unconnected were those not proven allegations of a cheating lauch control system at Benetton. Hey! Wasn't Briatore at Benetton?

You also have the works enginegate saga which hasnt boiled over yet. As in why are the redbull engines have failed more than Renault team ones.

There could be something in that, but equally it could be to do with the installation. Maybe they aren't getting enough cooling in the RB car?

I guess Renault not contesting the allegations is an admission of guilt.

If it was all done between Flav/Symonds/Piquet it would seem a shame to kick the team out when all three have now gone.

I fancy going into a Renault dealer and asking if I buy a car, can they remotely crash it

Does anyone else see a common factor between McLaren in 2007 and Renault in 2008?

Does anyone else see a common factor between McLaren in 2007 and Renault in 2008?

that the head of each team annoyed Spanky Mosley?

From another Forum,

Hmm. Briatore arranging a driver to crash?

Totally changing the subject, does anyone recall Schumacher driving into Hill in 95 and Villeneuve in 97 when driving for Benetton? And of course, also totally unconnected were those not proven allegations of a cheating lauch control system at Benetton. Hey! Wasn't Briatore at Benetton?

hmmm someone may have a point there!!!!

There could be something in that, but equally it could be to do with the installation. Maybe they aren't getting enough cooling in the RB car?

Adrian Newey's worked with almost every manufacturer. He'd have had that one covered I'm sure

Does anyone else see a common factor between McLaren in 2007 and Renault in 2008?

Their cars arent red?

Talking of Ferrari, I'm sure their own legal beagles are chomping at the bit for compensation from Renault/Symonds/Briatore

I was being cynical when I posted this after the race, but it seems I was right!

Renault got it spot on, fuel Alonso light, come in early then get your team mate to put it in the wall just as most teams will pit so that the safety car comes out, brilliant.

IIRC Alonso came in when he still had 8 laps of fuel in the car....slightly fishy!!

Surely he & his engineers must have wondered why that would happen & marvel at his own subsequent good fortune?

Any team would make light of a situation IMO.

However if you know it's coming you can always get their first. We've only seen Piquets transcript. It'd be interesting to see Alonso's as well.

It'd have to be like:

Piquet about to reach crash point

Alonso pit now

Eh?

Now right NOW

Piquet crashes

Alonso enters pits

SC deployed closing pit lane

Other cars to heavily fuelled to warrant pitting for fuels or tyres

Alone Piquets transcipt proves FA. But with the whole picture in a timeline, bet things look pretty damming.

We'll have to wait until Monday for the full FIA report, but Piquet Snr's come out saying Charlie Whiting was told in Brazil last year, yet without Jnr's statement they couldnt investigate.

Does anyone else see a common factor between McLaren in 2007 and Renault in 2008?

A strange spanish theme?

Well, seems the great Alfonso's due at the WMSC as well.

They also dont like the idea of current team owners/managers also managing drivers. Could this be hinting at a ban for Flavio from the sport?

Total whitewash. If it was a team that didn't make engines (McLaren etc) they'd have banned them forever. But they can't afford to lose a team that does, so this is the result. McLaren get caught with someone else's drawings and get a $100m fine, Renault didn't actually do anything other than blame the two employees acting on their beahlf and despite risking the safety of drivers, stewards and fans they get a token punishment which will never be pursued. Utter ******.

Total whitewash. If it was a team that didn't make engines (McLaren etc) they'd have banned them forever. But they can't afford to lose a team that does, so this is the result. McLaren get caught with someone else's drawings and get a $100m fine, Renault didn't actually do anything other than blame the two employees acting on their beahlf and despite risking the safety of drivers, stewards and fans they get a token punishment which will never be pursued. Utter ******.

Don't worry - they got a suspended ban. If they get caught again in the next couple of years they get a ban....