Formula 1 - 2009 Season

[Tahir2]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/17/damon-hill-nelson-piquet-renault-crash

"This is probably slightly on the wrong side of the cheating thing but in days past every team has done whatever they could to win – cheat, bend the rules, break the rules, sabotage opponents. This is just the FIA going on a crusade," he claimed.

Eddie Jordan.

Wrong side of cheating?
The right side of cheating is if your name is Michael Schumacher I suppose.

All documents relating to the case leaked:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/09/...wn-as-renault-accepts-singapore-crash-charge/

Statement of Nelson Piquet Jnr to FIA
Supplementary Statement of Nelson Piquet Jnr to FIA
Letter from Lars Osterlind to Max Mosley
Report of Stewards’ investigation into the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix
2008 Singapore Grand Prix Transcript of Extracts from Renault file “everything_08R15_Race_2008 192002”
Telemetry 1
Telemetry 2
Telemetry 3
Telemetry 4
Telemetry 5
Partial track map
Recovery vehicle locations
Letter from Flavio Briatore to Nelson Piquet Snr
Letter from Pierre de Coninck
Invitation to an extraordinary meeting of the WMSC

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/09/17/renault-reaction-briatore-speaks/

Loads of links to articles...

Finally:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/09/17/fernando-alonso-should-renounce-his-singapore-grand-prix-win/

But what sets the Renault case apart is the offensive cynicism of a team ordering one driver to risk injury or worse in a crash to benefit his team mate.

It was not just Piquet at risk – but spectators, marshals and other drivers. The impact showered debris across the track – and recent accidents have left us in no doubt of the terrible risks that presents.

Puts Eddie Jordan's comments into perspective too - after what happened to Massa these team bosses really don't give a shit about the personal safety of anyone but their bank account.

Formula One needs an overhaul. These old men have been acting like kids in playground fight.

 

[Davros]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/17/damon-hill-nelson-piquet-renault-crash

Eddie Jordan.

Its Eddie Irvine

 

[Tahir2]

On the plus side I am glad Eddie Jordan isn't so stupid.

 

[Bludd]

Suspended disqualification until the end of 2011, Briatore banned for an unlimited time, Symonds banned for 5 years, Piquet Jr. immune, Alonso not involved.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/renault-gets-suspended-disqualifcation/

 

[nutball]

... so basically, no material punishment whatsoever for the team.

 

[Bludd]

... so basically, no material punishment whatsoever for the team.

If you read the verdict, Renault will pay for the investigation and it will make contributions to safety-related FIA work.

Ron Dennis and McLaren staunchly denied all allegations when McLaren were up spying on Ferrari. They were first acquitted, but then new information came to light and they were slapped with that huge $100m fine.

There is a pattern here, Briatore denied these allegations and he was banned for life.

 

[nutball]

If you read the verdict, Renault will pay for the investigation and it will make contributions to safety-related FIA work.

Yeah I read that, but that's going to be what ... a few million dollars?

Ron Dennis and McLaren staunchly denied all allegations when McLaren were up spying on Ferrari. They were first acquitted, but then new information came to light and they were slapped with that huge $100m fine.

Well I'm not defending McLaren or their lying here. However their offence didn't deliberately put drivers (and possibly spectators) at risk of injury or worse on the track. Renault are basically getting away with it unless they do something monumentally stupid (eg. try to do it again).

There is a pattern here, Briatore denied these allegations and he was banned for life.

I'd expect nothing else. Seems though that it's the lying that's important, the original cheating isn't really dealt with.

 

[Bludd]

Yeah I read that, but that's going to be what ... a few million dollars?

Well I'm not defending McLaren or their lying here. However their offence didn't deliberately put drivers (and possibly spectators) at risk of injury or worse on the track. Renault are basically getting away with it unless they do something monumentally stupid (eg. try to do it again).

I'd expect nothing else. Seems though that it's the lying that's important, the original cheating isn't really dealt with.

The problem here is that the FIA has a vested interest in not punishing Renault too much right now. The sport needs their engines and, while I doubt all the new teams will be ready in March 2010, it's not good to lose established teams.

Briatore is basically being destroyed here. He manages many drivers, he is heavily involved in GP2 and GP3 and he owns QPR with Bernie. Apparently the rules of the Football League says that no one can own a team if they have been banned from any other sport.

 

[infinity4]

Thanks to Mr.Briatore, Mr Symonds and Mr Piquet, we will never ever know what the true sporting result of 2008 F1 championships would have been.

Im glad to see Briatore banned for life.

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

Thanks to Mr.Briatore, Mr Symonds and Mr Piquet, we will never ever know what the true sporting result of 2008 F1 championships would have been.

Im glad to see Briatore banned for life.

Well... you never really know in a sport like F1. What if the cars didnt let some drivers down? Or how about the FIA provided fuel rigs that time and time again seem to screw up at random?

 

[Phil]

Thanks to Mr.Briatore, Mr Symonds and Mr Piquet, we will never ever know what the true sporting result of 2008 F1 championships would have been.

Im glad to see Briatore banned for life.

And if they hadn't cheated, we would?

Do the events of race #15 discount what Massa, Hamilton and all other drivers fought for in the total 18, or the 3 remaining races, held in 2008?

 

[V3]

From Hamilton case early in the season to FOTA Vs Mosley crap to this, it's been a very crazy year for F1. I just find it hard to believe that Alonso came out clean. Anyway Piquet Jr is probably the kind of driver Alonso wants for his team mate. A clear cannon fodder.

 

[Gerry]

More uncertainty about Raikkonen driving for Ferrari next season

 

[Bludd]

Bob Bell is the new team principal at Renault, at least until the end of the season.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78807
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2009/09/bob-bell-becomes-new-renault-team-principal/

Bob Bell is a tech guy, but I don't see anything wrong with him being team principal. There are rumours Alain Prost will become team principal, but his last venture in F1 failed spectacularly.

 

[Gerry]

First practice is red flagged as Grosjean puts the second Renault into the wall in exactly the same position as Piquet.

Grosjean clearly has a well developed sense of humour.

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

Maybe he's just practising. Lets see how much fuel Alonso is on tomorrow

Unfortunalty I cant watch the race on sunday as I have to attend a family party and my family was nice enough to decide to have on the other side of the country so I cant watch (well, I could if I didnt arrange to go karting but I got to make the weekend somewhat bareable...) thank god for the internets though. I'll watch in on monday evening.

 

[Kaotik]

Interesting rumor, there has been a word going that it might not have been Ferrari who initiated the possibility that Kimi won't drive there next season, but Kimi himself for feeling that he wasn't being treated fair

 

[Bludd]

Button is in trouble, but then again, he is very lucky because Barrichello first had to change the gearbox thus incurring a 5 place grid penalty, but he also made a mistake and crashed in Q3.

Hamilton is kicking ass, Rosberg is on fire, Vettel is coping well with his engine handicap but he is light, Alonso manages to get into Q3.

Who will win? Who knows, there may be safety cars, anything can happen. It's looking good for the race because Button and Barrichello will have to attack. Vettel and Webber would love to see both Brawns out of the points, I would love to see it because it would keep both championships alive.

 

[Tahir2]

Great race, missed the start though.
Hamilton shows why he is a world champion and awesome result for Toyota finally. Alonso gets a legit podium finish in Singapore finally.

Felt bad for Webber and Vettel - Jensun seems to be slowly coming back to form and it probably is his championship.

 

[Gerry]

Williams must be bloody livid with the way that went. They finally had a car that could compete for at least a podium position and Rosberg goes and does something stupid like that. Terrible luck for the safety card to come out when it did, but he basically threw away 8 points.