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[Denthúl]

Ecclestone's views are hardly surprising, and he's not giving away much about the hearing. No doubt, he will be arguing for a less punishment, just as he did for McLaren, on commercial grounds. Of more interest is the future Briatore and Symonds could face.

I imagine probably nothing, seeing as the charges have been brought against the Renault F1 team and not any individuals. Much like the lying incident earlier in the season, where Dave Ryan was removed from McLaren, Briatore and Symonds will likely not have to attend the hearing now that they are no longer employees of the team. This would more than likely mean that, once again, full details of what went on will not be revealed.

[McLaren Fan]

Ecclestone's views are hardly surprising, and he's not giving away much about the hearing. No doubt, he will be arguing for a less punishment, just as he did for McLaren, on commercial grounds. Of more interest is the future Briatore and Symonds could face.

I imagine probably nothing, seeing as the charges have been brought against the Renault F1 team and not any individuals. Much like the lying incident earlier in the season, where Dave Ryan was removed from McLaren, Briatore and Symonds will likely not have to attend the hearing now that they are no longer employees of the team. This would more than likely mean that, once again, full details of what went on will not be revealed.

True, but the FIA are not ones known for working on the grounds of precedent. Although I think they are ill-founded, there are questions surrounding who deserved to win the drivers' title. If Ferrari were to take legal action, it would be interesting to see what came of it. If it did go anywhere, a whole can of worms could be opened. It's just as the teams were reasonably well spread out in the constructors' title last season, or things could have got nastier still.

[Denthúl]

Ecclestone's views are hardly surprising, and he's not giving away much about the hearing. No doubt, he will be arguing for a less punishment, just as he did for McLaren, on commercial grounds. Of more interest is the future Briatore and Symonds could face.

I imagine probably nothing, seeing as the charges have been brought against the Renault F1 team and not any individuals. Much like the lying incident earlier in the season, where Dave Ryan was removed from McLaren, Briatore and Symonds will likely not have to attend the hearing now that they are no longer employees of the team. This would more than likely mean that, once again, full details of what went on will not be revealed.

True, but the FIA are not ones known for working on the grounds of precedent. Although I think they are ill-founded, there are questions surrounding who deserved to win the drivers' title. If Ferrari were to take legal action, it would be interesting to see what came of it. If it did go anywhere, a whole can of worms could be opened. It's just as the teams were reasonably well spread out in the constructors' title last season, or things could have got nastier still.

True. I did mention elsewhere that Ferrari and Massa could find reason to challenge over this. It's frustrating that this is only just being dealt with, especially if the rumours that Piquet Sr. spoke to Charlie Whiting last season. It could seriously have influenced the Championship.

[billindenver]

If that conversation took place, Whiting needs to be investigated.

[texasmr2]

[Jabberwocky]

If that conversation took place, Whiting needs to be investigated.

Didn't Whiting say that he needed Jr to make it official before anything happened.

Looking at it now out of context might be miss leading also. if you think Sr and Whiting have been friends a long time, the convo might of been as friends and a "what do you think I should do" type of affairs.

[texasmr2]

Planet F1:

Renault are hoping Alain Prost will be the man to lead them out of the mire.

The French manufacturer are searching for a new team principal following Flavio Briatore's decision to step down in the wake of the Singapore race-fixing scandal.

The Mail on Sunday reports that 'Prost is the man Renault are poised to summon to restore their damaged reputation following the biggest scandal in motorsport history.

'If the team are not banned from Grand Prix racing tomorrow in a Paris motorsport courtroom, Renault hope they can persuade Prost, the four-time world champion, to succeed the disgraced Flavio Briatore as team principal.'

The Frenchman, who used to run Prost Grand Prix in the late 90s, admits he is shocked by the race-fixing debacle.

"It's unbelievable to think what happened and what could have happened as a consequence," he told the paper.

"This problem started when you have a team principal, representing a big factory, a big constructor like Renault, and also being a manager of a driver. You need to understand that a young driver, like Piquet, is very fragile and he had a lot of pressure.

"Piquet went too far but it is something that should not happen again. It is not fair. If you want to keep constructors in F1, you have to have a sport that is more clean and with greater integrity. Team principals should not manage drivers."

Prost also believes Briatore and Renault engineering director Pat Symonds will find it difficult to find another job in F1.

"The whole of my career, I think I was working with integrity and F1 desperately needs to regain some morality," he added.

"It should be difficult for Briatore or Symonds to find a way back into F1 but in this sport you never know. In a moral world, it should be impossible for them to do so."

[7UpJordan]

I wonder how long it'll be before Symonds teams up with Stepney to form their own team?

[Jabberwocky]

I wonder what has happened to Prodrive as they where sniffing around as well.

I wonder how long it'll be before Symonds teams up with Stepney to form their own team?

I think Team Dodgy:-

Team Principle – Flavio Briatore
Chief Engineer – Pat Symonds
Chief Mechanic – Nigel Stepney
Sporting director – Dave Ryan
Engineer - Mike Coughlan
Reprographics – Trudy Coughlan
Driver - Piquet Jr

I heard that they are trying to get Dodge to supply the team engines.

[Denthúl]

Reprographics – Trudy Coughlan

[Gilles 27]

I would imagine that when this has all settled down a little, Symonds will be receiving some job offers, he has an excellent reputation when it comes to actually doing his job.

[billindenver]

If that conversation took place, Whiting needs to be investigated.

Didn't Whiting say that he needed Jr to make it official before anything happened.

Looking at it now out of context might be miss leading also. if you think Sr and Whiting have been friends a long time, the convo might of been as friends and a "what do you think I should do" type of affairs.

You are looking at this as if in order for Whiting to call for an investigation, Piquet has to officially say he was wronged. The fact of the matter is that as soon as Piquet senior stated what had happened the governing body had an obligation to investigate it because MANY people were wronged if it was true. The sport was wronged, the championship was affected and the governing body has an obligation to investigate such a thing from the moment they hear about it. Not just because or only if Nelson Piquet freaking Jr says he was officially wronged. HE was one of those guilty of the crime....his complaint is immaterial. Once Whiting heard this happened, he was damn well obligated to investigate it and when he did not do so, he was guilty of helping to cover it up.

[texasmr2]

I agree!

[racechick]

If that conversation took place, Whiting needs to be investigated.

Didn't Whiting say that he needed Jr to make it official before anything happened.

Looking at it now out of context might be miss leading also. if you think Sr and Whiting have been friends a long time, the convo might of been as friends and a "what do you think I should do" type of affairs.

You are looking at this as if in order for Whiting to call for an investigation, Piquet has to officially say he was wronged. The fact of the matter is that as soon as Piquet senior stated what had happened the governing body had an obligation to investigate it because MANY people were wronged if it was true. The sport was wronged, the championship was affected and the governing body has an obligation to investigate such a thing from the moment they hear about it. Not just because or only if Nelson Piquet freaking Jr says he was officially wronged. HE was one of those guilty of the crime....his complaint is immaterial. Once Whiting heard this happened, he was damn well obligated to investigate it and when he did not do so, he was guilty of helping to cover it up.

Yep. If someone came to him with suspicions like that then he should have investigated further.

[racechick]

I wonder what has happened to Prodrive as they where sniffing around as well.

I wonder how long it'll be before Symonds teams up with Stepney to form their own team?

I think Team Dodgy:-

Team Principle – Flavio Briatore
Chief Engineer – Pat Symonds
Chief Mechanic – Nigel Stepney
Sporting director – Dave Ryan
Engineer - Mike Coughlan
Reprographics – Trudy Coughlan
Driver - Piquet Jr

I heard that they are trying to get Dodge to supply the team engines.