Saturday September 12, 2009
Renault take ex-driver Piquet to court
MONZA: Formula One’s crumbling reputation suffered another bodyblow yesterday when Renault accused former driver Nelson Piquet of blackmail as the ‘race fix’ controversy took a series of bitter, new twists.
Renault announced they were launching criminal proceedings against Piquet and his father, three-time world champion Nelson Piquet senior, in relation to claims that the team conspired to fix the outcome of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
On a dramatic day of claim and counter-claim, which completely over-shadowed the build-up to tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix here, Piquet, who was sacked by the team in August, insisted he would not be bullied by the French team.
Meanwhile, the International Motorsport Federation (FIA) said Piquet would be offered immunity from prosecution in the controversy while also launching an investigation into how the Brazilian’s testimony over the affair had been leaked to the media.
Renault have already been summoned to appear before the FIA’s International Motor Sport Council in Paris on Sept 21 to answer allegations that Piquet was asked to crash his car deliberately into a wall during the 2008 Singapore race and so facilitate a victory for his team-mate Fernando Alonso.
In the race, Piquet crashed and Alonso went on to win.
Yesterday morning, Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore denied all the accusations against him - notably conspiring with team management and Piquet junior to cause a deliberate accident — and said that they were “outrageous lies“.
Piquet insists he has told the truth, adding he refuses to be bullied by either Renault or Briatore.
In a statement, Piquet said: “Regarding the current FIA investigation, I confirm that I have co-operated fully and honestly with the sport’s governing body. Because I am telling the truth, I have nothing to fear, whether from the ING Renault Team or Mr Briatore and whilst I am well aware of the power and influence of those being investigated, and the vast resources at their disposal, I will not be bullied again into making a decision I regret.” — AFP
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