FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[texasmr2]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89431


Pat Symonds is to return to Formula 1 in a consultancy role after agreeing a deal to help out the Virgin Racing team.The former Renault technical director has been out of the sport since he left the Enstone-based outfit in the wake of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix race-fixing controversy.

He has spent his time since then involved in numerous other engineering and motorsport projects for his own consultancy business Neutrino Dynamics.
Although that had not included any current F1 teams up until now, last year he did help out one of the candidates that was pushing for a new entry for 2011.

Virgin Racing president Graeme Lowdon has confirmed that Symonds is now helping out his team - and that he believed his input would be useful."Pat is retained by one of our shareholders as an advisor, and he's advising the team," Lowdon told AUTOSPORT. "He's allowed to do consultancy work through his company. Quite a few people in the team have worked with him in the past and all the technical guys are really, really excited. I can see only positive things."

As part of a deal Symonds agreed with the FIA he cannot work full-time for a team until 2013, but he is allowed to work on a consultancy basis. Speaking at the AUTOSPORT International Show earlier this year, Symonds expressed his hope that he would return to an F1 role in the near future. "There are still lots of things I want to do," he said. "I am working as a consultant now and I am doing a lot of work in racing as well as in other areas. I still have a love of F1 because of the engineering. I absolutely have a passion for racing - you cannot keep me away.

[Hammer278]

That's a good hire for Virgin Racing. I dont think he's just on 'consultancy' though, there might be under the table funds moving around with a fake title for Symonds to keep the FIA out of their business.

However, if we suddenly see a Virgin spinning around and ruining a race while another scores points, some warning lights have to be set off.

[texasmr2]

A bit harsh !

[Jabberwocky]

maybe he is hoping a Virgin will get to lap 13

I think this is a a good call by Virgin, anything that makes a team stronger is good.

[RascasseRebel]

Harsh indeed Hammer278.......which reminds me, when is Flavio allowed back into F1? Has he served his time yet?

[What's Burning?]

That's a good hire for Virgin Racing. I dont think he's just on 'consultancy' though, there might be under the table funds moving around with a fake title for Symonds to keep the FIA out of their business.

However, if we suddenly see a Virgin spinning around and ruining a race while another scores points, some warning lights have to be set off.

Good thing I read your post, I was about to say the same thing. My money is on d'Ambrosio spinning getting Glock a 10th place finish and Virgin gets 10th in the WCC, and he's "earned" his consultancy fee.

[darwin dali]

Virgin and cattle prod - how jealous I am

[madbrad]

White Powder to the Rescue!





wait

[racechick]

Nice to see Pat back. I always liked him. I dont think the cheating was his idea

[What's Burning?]

Nice to see Pat back. I always liked him. I dont think the cheating was his idea

No way to ever know... but my feeling is that he was a fall guy by virtue of his role in the team.... but that incident had Flavio's fingerprints all over it.


The scene where the idea was concocted was probably similar to the movie The Producers, when they realize that they can make more money by scamming investors int he play than actually writing a successful play.

For extra credit, anyone remember the name of the play they wrote?