FORUMula1.com

[headless]

Bye bye Renault

[cheekybru]

just for the people that are saying alonso has never cheated

parking in front of your team mate for 15 seconds to stop them having a chance of doing their last lap in qualifying?

[McLaren Fan]

They can't change the championship result, Hamilton will remain champion. However, if Massa hadn't dashed in to the pits when the safety car came out, he looked set to win that race. So that would've been an extra ten points, but it's impossible to say what would have happened because without the safety car the positions would have been totally different. To me, it would just mean that the result of the 2008 championship was questionable, which is unfortunate really but there is nothing that could be done about it short of discounting all scores from the Singapore grand prix, which would not be a good solution at all (and it would change the result of the championship - Lewis would end up losing the title by five points).

No the championship or the race result will not be changed.

And nor should it be. The fact is, Massa mowed down his pit crew, which he must take the blame for. Also, Hamilton was unfairly stripped of his victory in Belgium, and given a dubious penalty in Japan, where Massa also rammed him off the track. I just feel sorry for both Raikkonen and Hamilton. Both drivers' titles have been unfairly tainted by politics.

As soon as rumours of Renault broke out, like most others, I suspected it was nonesense dreamed up by the Piquets to get their own back on Renault - principally Briatore. However, as more information began to emerge, it did start to look like something had gone on. I'm half surprised and half not surprised. I would not put much past Briatore, given his track record, I would not put much past both Piquets either. (And, if Alonso was involved, I would not put a lot past him as well). It's a shame to learn that Symonds was involved, as he came across as one of the sport's good guys. In any case, it's another sad day for Formula One.

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Lauda: FIA must punish Renault heavily

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, September 17th 2009, 08:23 GMT

Former world champion Niki Lauda has said that the FIA must still punish Renault hard for its involvement in fixing last year's Singapore Grand Prix if Formula 1 is to restore its credibility.

In the wake of Renault admitting that it will not contest charges that it deliberately caused a crash in Singapore last year to help Fernando Alonso win, Lauda has called for tough sanctions.

This comes despite the two men at the centre of the case - Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds - having left the team ahead of next Monday's World Motor Sport Council hearing into the matter.

The hearing will still go ahead and it is likely Renault will be represented by a lawyer, who will ask for clemency because the evidence suggests only a few people knew about the alleged race-fixing plot.

But Lauda thinks that even though so few knew about the offence, he thinks for the sake of the sport the team must be punished.

He suggests this matter is more serious than either Michael Schumacher deliberately parking his car in Monaco 2006, or the McLaren spy case in 2007.

"When I first heard the accusation that Renault had asked Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately, the question was whether it was true or not," Lauda told the Daily Mail.

"If it was true, then it amounted to the worst thing that has happened in Formula 1.

"There is only one other incident that comes near - Michael Schumacher parking his Ferrari on the racing line at Monaco in 2006 to block Fernando Alonso's last qualifying lap.

"But, really, even that is not comparable."

He added: "Yes, the McLaren spying scandal two years ago was extremely serious but mechanics have always discussed technical data among themselves.

"This, though, is new. The biggest damage ever. Now the FIA must punish Renault heavily to restore credibility in the sport."

Lauda has also expressed disappointment about the stance adopted by Briatore over the weekend - the Italian claiming innocence and stirring up matters relating to Piquet's private life.

"What also really upset me at the weekend was what Flavio Briatore was saying. He denied it all," he said.

"His messages were murky, even making comments about Piquet's private life. It was unbelievable. And now, because Briatore has been sacked, we must assume the allegations against Renault were all true."

[supeindesu]

just for the people that are saying alonso has never cheated

parking in front of your team mate for 15 seconds to stop them having a chance of doing their last lap in qualifying?

He was asking why the hell, against all common sense, they had put him used tyres for quali. Alonso crossed the line less than a second before the end of qualification, so he was pretty close to not been able to do his last lap. Then "I don't know whom" told to, let's use code name "Daddy", to go to FIA to accuse his, let's say "team partner", of blocking him... IN PITS... As long as I know, rules says that a blockade is in the track... Don't know how "I don't know whom" didn't do the same with Raikkonen (Canada 08).

[kerc]

Why is Niki Lauda commenting about everything, always? Is he some sort of self-appointed sport analyst?

[Brandz]

just for the people that are saying alonso has never cheated

parking in front of your team mate for 15 seconds to stop them having a chance of doing their last lap in qualifying?

He was asking why the hell, against all common sense, they had put him used tyres for quali. Alonso crossed the line less than a second before the end of qualification, so he was pretty close to not been able to do his last lap. Then "I don't know whom" told to, let's use code name "Daddy", to go to FIA to accuse his, let's say "team partner", of blocking him... IN PITS... As long as I know, rules says that a blockade is in the track... Don't know how "I don't know whom" didn't do the same with Raikkonen (Canada 08).

stop making excuses for him

[Amanda]

Why is Niki Lauda commenting about everything, always? Is he some sort of self-appointed sport analyst?

He does seem to have an opinion on everything lately doesn't he.

[Brandz]

Why is Niki Lauda commenting about everything, always? Is he some sort of self-appointed sport analyst?

He does seem to have an opinion on everything lately doesn't he.

its good, i like to hear wot he says

[Amanda]

Why is Niki Lauda commenting about everything, always? Is he some sort of self-appointed sport analyst?

He does seem to have an opinion on everything lately doesn't he.

its good, i like to hear wot he says

Oh I don't know, I got a bit sick of his opinions with regards to the Ferrari seat.

[7UpJordan]

Why is Niki Lauda commenting about everything, always? Is he some sort of self-appointed sport analyst?

He does seem to have an opinion on everything lately doesn't he.

its good, i like to hear wot he says

Oh I don't know, I got a bit sick of his opinions with regards to the Ferrari seat.

Maybe he really wants the Ferrari seat and is planning a comeback.

[supeindesu]

just for the people that are saying alonso has never cheated

parking in front of your team mate for 15 seconds to stop them having a chance of doing their last lap in qualifying?

He was asking why the hell, against all common sense, they had put him used tyres for quali. Alonso crossed the line less than a second before the end of qualification, so he was pretty close to not been able to do his last lap. Then "I don't know whom" told to, let's use code name "Daddy", to go to FIA to accuse his, let's say "team partner", of blocking him... IN PITS... As long as I know, rules says that a blockade is in the track... Don't know how "I don't know whom" didn't do the same with Raikkonen (Canada 08).

stop making excuses for him

If you don't want to know all the points of view you are losing a lot

[Gaz]

does every thread have to be a fight between the Lewis Hamilton Fans and Haters.

gets boring...

[myownalias]

I don't always agree with Lauda's comments but I agree wholeheartedly with his comments in this case, if Renault don't get heavily punished then it makes a laughing stock of Formula 1. It'll send out a message to all teams that it's OK to cheat as long as the team principle leaves should they get caught.

[FerrariFan63]

I don't always agree with Lauda's comments but I agree wholeheartedly with his comments in this case, if Renault don't get heavily punished then it makes a laughing stock of Formula 1. It'll send out a message to all teams that it's OK to cheat as long as the team principle leaves should they get caught.

Surely this message was already sent out after McLaren was let off lie-gate. After senior team members left.