Briatore: I quit to save Renault

By Pablo Elizalde Thursday, September 17th 2009, 10:40 GMT


Flavio Briatore says he left the Renault team in order to save the French squad, ahead of the decisive FIA meeting to face allegations of race-fixing.

The flamboyant Italian, together with director of engineering Pat Symonds, yesterday left the team he had led since Renault returned to Formula 1 in 2000.

The French outfit said in a statement it would not dispute the allegations of fixing the result of last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

Briatore said he felt it was his duty to quit Renault, hoping the FIA will take a more lenient view.

"I was just trying to save the team. It's my duty. That's the reason I've finished," Briatore was quoted as saying by British newspapers.

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said it was a shame Briatore, who led Renault to two constructors' titles, had to end his F1 career like that.

"It is a pity that Flavio has ended his Formula 1 career in this way," Ecclestone the Daily Mirror. "You can't defend him at all. What he did was completely unnecessary. It's a pity that its happened."

Ecclestone added: "He told me recently that he didn't want to finish up like me, playing with racing cars at my age. So at least he's been saved that embarrassment.

"It (the sport) has recovered from so many things when people have said it was finished and it will recover from this. It was supposed to be finished when Ayrton Senna died. It was supposed to be finished when Michael Schumacher retired.

"People say its been a torrid year but it always is in F1. There's always something going on. It's never peaceful."

Renault has received a penalty of a suspended disqualification from the FIA World Championship that will be in place until 2011, the World Motor Sport Council decided in Paris today.

The key outcome of today’s hearing is that Flavio Briatore has been banned indefinitely from any involvement in international motor sport. This will also affect is involvement in the GP2 series, while drivers under his management control – including Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen – will not be issued super licenses if he remains in charge of their management.

Meanwhile Pat Symonds has been banned for five years.

The full verdict reads as follows:

At an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council held in Paris on 21 September 2009, the ING Renault F1 team (“Renault F1”) admitted that the team had conspired with its driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, in breach of the International Sporting Code and F1 Sporting Regulations.

Renault F1 stated at the meeting that it had conducted a detailed internal investigation, which found that: (i) Flavio Briatore, Pat Symonds and Nelson Piquet Jr. had conspired to cause the crash; and (ii) no other team member was involved in the conspiracy.

The FIA has conducted its own detailed investigation and its findings correspond with those of Renault F1.

At the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, Renault F1 made the following points in mitigation:

- It had accepted, at the earliest practicable opportunity, that it committed the offenses with which it was charged and cooperated fully with the FIA’s investigation;

- It had confirmed that Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds were involved in the conspiracy and ensured that they left the team;

- It apologized unreservedly to the FIA and to the sport for the harm caused by its actions;

- It committed to paying the costs incurred by the FIA in its investigation; and

- Renault (the parent company, as opposed to Renault F1) committed to making a significant contribution to FIA safety-related projects.

Nelson Piquet Jr. also apologized unreservedly to the World Motor Sport Council for his part in the conspiracy.

The following decision was taken:

The World Motor Sport Council finds that Renault F1 team members Flavio Briatore, Pat Symonds and Nelson Piquet Jr. conspired to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. The World Motor Sport Council therefore finds Renault F1, which, under article 123 of the International Sporting Code, is responsible for the actions of its employees, in breach of Articles 151(c) and point 2(c) of Chapter IV of Appendix L of the Code, and Articles 3.2, 30.3 and/or 39.1 of the Formula One Sporting Regulations.

The World Motor Sport Council considers Renault F1’s breaches relating to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to be of unparalleled severity. Renault F1’s breaches not only compromised the integrity of the sport but also endangered the lives of spectators, officials, other competitors and Nelson Piquet Jr. himself. The World Motor Sport Council considers that offenses of this severity merit permanent
disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship. However, having regard to the points in mitigation mentioned above and in particular the steps taken by Renault F1 to identify and address the failings within its team and condemn the actions of the individuals involved, the WMSC has decided to suspend Renault F1’s disqualification until the end of the 2011 season. The World Motor Sport Council will only activate this disqualification if Renault F1 is found guilty of a comparable breach during that time.

In addition the World Motor Sport Council notes Renault F1’s apology and agrees that the team should pay the costs of the investigation. It also accepts the offer of a significant contribution to the FIA’s safety work.

As regards Mr. Briatore, the World Motor Sport Council declares that, for an unlimited period, the FIA does not intend to sanction any International Event, Championship, Cup, Trophy, Challenge or Series involving Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any Team or other entity engaging Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever. It also hereby instructs all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Briatore access to any areas under the FIA’s jurisdiction. Furthermore, it does not intend to renew any Super license granted to any driver who is associated (through a management contract or otherwise) with Mr. Briatore, or any entity or individual associated with Mr. Briatore. In determining that such instructions should be applicable for an unlimited period, the World Motor Sport Council has had regard not only to the severity of the breach in which Mr. Briatore was complicit but also to his actions in continuing to deny his participation in the breach despite all the evidence.

As regards Mr. Symonds, the World Motor Sport Council declares that, for a period of five years, the FIA does not intend to sanction any International Event, Championship, Cup, Trophy, Challenge or Series involving Mr. Symonds in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any Team or other entity engaging Mr. Symonds in any capacity whatsoever. It hereby instructs, for a period of five years, all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Symonds access to any areas under the FIA’s jurisdiction. In determining that such instructions should be effective for a period of five years the World Motor Sport Council has had regard: (i) to Mr. Symonds’ acceptance that he took part in the conspiracy; and (ii) to his communication to the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council that it was to his “eternal regret and shame” that he participated in the conspiracy.

As regards Mr. Piquet Jr., the World Motor Sport Council confirms the immunity from individual sanctions under the International Sporting Code in relation to this incident, which the FIA had granted to him in exchange for volunteering his evidence.

As regards Fernando Alonso, the World Motor Sport Council thanks him for cooperating with the FIA’s enquiries and for attending the meeting, and concludes that Mr. Alonso was not in any way involved in Renault F1’s breach of the regulations.



Renault’s decision not to contest the charges against it, and oust those responsible, was looked upon favorably by the FIA.

Renault has confirmed that it has ended its involvement in criminal proceedings against Nelson Piquet Sr and Jr for alleged blackmail, although former team boss Flavio Briatore is expected to push ahead with the case.

Renault F1 sponsors ING and Mutua Madrilena are both leaving the team with immediate effect. This will create additional costs for the Renault company in the next couple of months. It will also give the French car company clear grounds to take action against former employees Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds, if it chooses to pursue them for damages.

Former Renault Team Principal Flavio Briatore has won his court case against the FIA in the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris. In the case, Briatore claimed that the life ban from Formula 1 given to him by the FIA was excessive and unfair.

F1 has turned to Michael Schumacher for additional motivation in 2010, according to exiled former team boss Flavio Briatore.

Despite overturning his FIA ban in the wake of the crashgate scandal, the 59-year-old Italian has said he is unlikely to ever return to the pitwall.

"Michael will have to work hard," said Briatore on Monday, as huge scrums of reporters and photographers chased the 41-year-old German around the Valencia test circuit.

"His comeback has given Formula One a new motivation," he told Rai Radio 1.

"If Schumacher is not competitive, it will be a disaster," Briatore added.

Briatore, who ran the Benetton team in the mid 90s where Schumacher won his first two titles, said he is not so sure the German will be able to resume where he left his last championship contest in 2006.

"It's not his 41 years, but the three years he was away from Formula One. And you don't race faster if you color your hair," said the Italian, referring to Schumacher's frank admission in a German newspaper this week.

Briatore also seemed to agree with a hostile Italian media contingent that has branded Schumacher's switch from Ferrari to Mercedes as an act of betrayal.

"Schumacher wanted to return with Ferrari but did not have the chance. It then came to this inelegant betrayal.

"He is like any other: he talks, but when it comes to actions it is according to his personal interest."

Briatore predicted Red Bull-Ferrari-McLaren-Mercedes as the likely pecking order in 2010, and slammed the typical Grand Prix as "boring".

Briatore also seemed to agree with a hostile Italian media contingent that has branded Schumacher's switch from Ferrari to Mercedes as an act of betrayal.