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[Big Azza]

Taken from the Formula One Website:

Renault apologise to Piquets over Singapore '08 allegations
Renault have issued a formal apology to former driver Nelson Piquet Junior and his father after the High Court decided the team had made false allegations against the two men in relation to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix race-fixing scandal.

In a press release issued in September 2009, Renault claimed that Piquet Junior had been lying when he made allegations - later found to be true - that he had crashed deliberately during the race. The team also claimed that Piquet’s intention in making the allegations was to blackmail them into allowing him to keep his drive.

The Piquets took libel action against Renault over the claims and after they won their case on Tuesday the team agreed to pay them substantial damages and cover their legal costs.

In a statement, Renault said: “The team accepts - as it did before the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) of the FIA and as found by the WMSC in its decision of 21 September 2009 - that the allegations made by Nelson Piquet Junior were not false. It also accepts that Mr Piquet Junior and his father did not invent these allegations in order to blackmail the team.

“As a result, these serious allegations contained in the press release were wholly untrue and unfounded, and we withdraw them unequivocally. We would like to apologise unreservedly to Mr Piquet Junior and his father for the distress and embarrassment caused as a result.

“As a mark of the sincerity of our apology and regret, we have agreed to pay them a substantial amount of damages for libel as well as their costs, and have undertaken not to repeat these allegations at any time in the future.”

Renault were given a two-year suspended ban from the sport in September 2009 after the WMSC found that then team boss Flavio Briatore and then executive director of engineering Pat Symonds had planned the crash with Piquet in order to benefit the race strategy of team mate Fernando Alonso, who was unaware of the plan.

At the risk of sounding wanky - I'd like to point out that I blatantly defended the Piquets at the time, and I feel that this has been the correct outcome.

Read into it what you will, but the Piquets have now been paid handsomely, and, in my opinion, Nelsinho should be allowed to come back to the sport.

[F1er]

We still dont know half of it! I want Alonso testifying under oath! I will never believe he had no knowledge! This guy has cost a lotta people and teams too much pain and money!

[CarBore]

Taken from the Formula One Website:

Renault apologise to Piquets over Singapore '08 allegations
Renault have issued a formal apology to former driver Nelson Piquet Junior and his father after the High Court decided the team had made false allegations against the two men in relation to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix race-fixing scandal.

In a press release issued in September 2009, Renault claimed that Piquet Junior had been lying when he made allegations - later found to be true - that he had crashed deliberately during the race. The team also claimed that Piquet’s intention in making the allegations was to blackmail them into allowing him to keep his drive.

The Piquets took libel action against Renault over the claims and after they won their case on Tuesday the team agreed to pay them substantial damages and cover their legal costs.

In a statement, Renault said: “The team accepts - as it did before the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) of the FIA and as found by the WMSC in its decision of 21 September 2009 - that the allegations made by Nelson Piquet Junior were not false. It also accepts that Mr Piquet Junior and his father did not invent these allegations in order to blackmail the team.

“As a result, these serious allegations contained in the press release were wholly untrue and unfounded, and we withdraw them unequivocally. We would like to apologise unreservedly to Mr Piquet Junior and his father for the distress and embarrassment caused as a result.

“As a mark of the sincerity of our apology and regret, we have agreed to pay them a substantial amount of damages for libel as well as their costs, and have undertaken not to repeat these allegations at any time in the future.”

Renault were given a two-year suspended ban from the sport in September 2009 after the WMSC found that then team boss Flavio Briatore and then executive director of engineering Pat Symonds had planned the crash with Piquet in order to benefit the race strategy of team mate Fernando Alonso, who was unaware of the plan.

At the risk of sounding wanky - I'd like to point out that I blatantly defended the Piquets at the time, and I feel that this has been the correct outcome.

Read into it what you will, but the Piquets have now been paid handsomely, and, in my opinion, Nelsinho should be allowed to come back to the sport.

Being allowed back in is one thing. But finding a team willing to employ him is another

[Jack Master]

I believe that after begging him pardon and giving him a lot of money, they should finish by giving him a gold medal for his heroic action and awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize.

[What's Burning?]

I believe that after begging him pardon and giving him a lot of money, they should finish by giving him a gold medal for his heroic action and awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize.

Too late, Flavio and Fernando are already on the waiting list.

[scotty]

So they've officially milked this for all it's got - shame it cost Piquet Jr any chance of a good F1 career.... oh wait, it's his shambolic performances that already made sure of that!

[Jack Master]

I believe that after begging him pardon and giving him a lot of money, they should finish by giving him a gold medal for his heroic action and awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize.

Too late, Flavio and Fernando are already on the waiting list.

I would reward all of them with the same or at least similar honors for his selfless contribution to the cause of sportsmanship and fair play and for being a model for all the kids around the world. At least, the Nobel Prize in Economy to Flavio Briatore and the Nobel War Prize to Fernando Alonso.
I also would create the prize Michael Schumacher to reward, every year, human values in sport.
I believed that all of them should be ashamed for what they did, but life is plenty of surprises.

[spankyham]

So the Piquets are to be apologised to, and paid for, deliberately planning a crash that endangered lives and cost Ferrari and Felipe a world championship?

Now that there is proof, I sincerely hope that the next time either of them set foot in Singapore they are arrested for attempted murder or, at least attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

There have been two scandalous events in recent F1 history, "Stepneygate" and "Crashgate". Neither have been properly investigated and both should be subject to, at least some sort of commission of investigation run by a government. How far should the net be extended? To be honest I think a country like Australia could be independent and skilled enough to conduct a proper commission. ALL owners drivers and management should be investigated. All those responsible should be punished.

Having said all that, I think it is abhorrent in the extreme for people to use these events to cast aspersions on others simply because they were close to, or part of the same team. To accuse anyone with no real evidence other than they were team-mates or close is the action of a coward - a coward in the extreme. If there is evidence, let it be brought forward and the culprits dealt with. No backroom deals, no pardons for evidence.

[Jack Master]

So the Piquets are to be apologised to, and paid for, deliberately planning a crash that endangered lives and cost Ferrari and Felipe a world championship?

Now that there is proof, I sincerely hope that the next time either of them set foot in Singapore they are arrested for attempted murder or, at least attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

There have been two scandalous events in recent F1 history, "Stepneygate" and "Crashgate". Neither have been properly investigated and both should be subject to, at least some sort of commission of investigation run by a government. How far should the net be extended? To be honest I think a country like Australia could be independent and skilled enough to conduct a proper commission. ALL owners drivers and management should be investigated. All those responsible should be punished.

Having said all that, I think it is abhorrent in the extreme for people to use these events to cast aspersions on others simply because they were close to, or part of the same team. To accuse anyone with no real evidence other than they were team-mates or close is the action of a coward - a coward in the extreme. If there is evidence, let it be brought forward and the culprits dealt with. No backroom deals, no pardons for evidence.

Be careful, Spanky or you could be the next to beg pardon and spend some money.

[Jack Master]

Now seriously, I find totally unfair that Flavio and Fernando don’t receive A N Y T H I N G. They deserve, at least, the same amount of money than Piquet, if not more. Especially the father. Did he actually do anything?

[Jack Master]

Big Azza: "In my opinion, Nelsinho should be allowed to come back to the sport"

If I’m not wrong Nelsinho never was banned from Formula 1. In fact he wasn’t punished at all.

[Big Azza]

I know. Just the common belief is that he should be banned and I think he shouldn't.

[Robert12010]

So they've officially milked this for all it's got - shame it cost Piquet Jr any chance of a good F1 career.... oh wait, it's his shambolic performances that already made sure of that!

he certainly wasnt the best driver ever, and i think with all that they came out about singapore 08, i think his f1 career is well and truly burried, to be honest i have a better chance and i dont even do karting!!

[vaptin]

The irony is the truth was more damaging then Renault's allegations.

I think its the correct legal decision though.

[myownalias]

I believe that Piquet jr could have been a reasonable driver, not a great like his father but reasonable given a more nurturing environment, Renault under Flavio Briatore was not the right place for him, especially given Briatore's conflict of interests being Alonso's manager and team boss, the Brazilian had no chance at all. I think the apology and payout is fair given that Renault should have kept their corporate mouths shut instead of blindly believing Flavio, I have never trusted that slimeball!