Comments on: F1 links: The case against Renault

By: The Limit

The Limit — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:43:09 +0000

The biggest eye opener for me is Renault’s statement that they want to sue the Piquet family for ‘blackmail’ rather than ‘accusations of cheating’. This in itself suggests that Renault ‘DO’ have something to hide, because if they didn’t, there would be nothing for the Piquets’ to blackmail them with.
It all reminds me of Hungary 2007, and the accusation that Fernando Alonso tried to ‘blackmail’ McLaren boss Ron Dennis over the Spygate papers. The big difference ofcourse, is that Fernando was and still is a double world champion as opposed to Piquet Jnr whose FATHER was and still is a triple world champion. Get my point?
Simular stories, but with two drivers at the complete opposite end of the Formula One scale. Therein lies a common thread between these two stories, in that they both involve a team inwhich Fernando is a member. Come what may, a certain element will always suspect that there is no smoke without fire, and for understandable reasons.
Without question, two of the biggest pieces in the FIA’s case back in 2007 was Alonso and fellow McLaren driver Pedro De La Rosa. There was plenty of evidence indicating that these two drivers had discussed the usage of stolen Ferrari documents, and how it could aid their own team. In many ways, Alonso emerged from the rubble in the most part unpunished, due to his giving evidence in Paris during the inquiry. It does not take a brain surgeon to see though, that this was the moment inwhich Alonso and McLaren split in more ways than one.
So, here we are, again racked with scandal in another team inwhich Alonso plays a major role. The question on everybody’s lips is not if Piquet or Renault are guilty of these charges, but the role Fernando played in the event?
Many here have defended him, claiming that he is innocent of any wrong doing. To be honest, I hope they are right, but I have my doubts.
If what Nelson has described is true, this was a well thought out and executed plan to ‘dupe’ everybody and aid Fernando on his quest to victory. Unlike Australia, McLaren’s attempt with Hamilton was spur of the moment and clumsy. They had no way of knowing that Trulli would run wide, no way of knowing that Vettel and Kubica would crash bringing out the safety car.
No, with Renault, if these charges are true, THEY knew exactly what would happen. Nelson has already implicated Pat Symonds and Flavio Briatore in the planning of this saga, so is it so surprising to believe that Alonso knew what was about to happen?
If this plan was orchestrated to aid the Spaniard, would you not atleast notify him of your plans? Ofcourse you would, he would be the very first person you would tell, as he afterall is the teams ‘star’ driver.
This, ofcourse,is if Piquet Jnr is telling the truth? The evidence though, taking in account Fernando’s fuel load at the start compared to his starting position, and the timing of Nelson’s shunt makes it plausible, but not concrete.
I can see this case becoming very messy, with lots of lawyers and plenty of dough being spent. The Piquet family are stinking rich, so they have to readies to take this long distance in the courts. The people, in my mind, who risk coming off this the worst are Briatore and Symonds.
Unless the FIA can come up with strong evidence against Alonso, then he is in the clear regardless. Briatore and Symonds are the ones who should sweat, and sweat they most certainly will be doing.
With Renault strongly rumoured to be leaving F1, this is the last thing they needed. Not only for their careers within the team, but for their careers in F1 in general.
It has all the makings of a good movie, or horror movie, however you see it. Its going to be interesting.

By: Maksutov

Maksutov — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:26:18 +0000

Agreed.

But it seems that Piquet will be given immunity for his bad actions:

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090911155906.shtml

One begs the question as to whether Mosley himself instructed Piquet on how to proceed with this leak/allegations

By: manatcna

manatcna — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:03:35 +0000

One thing (IMO) is clear.
Piquet has no career

By: John H

John H — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:25:43 +0000

I guess so… I like the modified analogy!

But why would Piquet do such a thing completely independant of the team? It just makes no sense.

IMO, and I could well be wrong, he did it because he was told he would get a drive in 2009. But let us await the verdict.

By: PatrickL

PatrickL — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:15:37 +0000

I think the point is that it was Piquet’s idea and he decided to go through with it anyway. ie they claim they had nothing to do with it at all.

It’s more like you tell a friend you are going to rob a bank. He tells you not to. A while later you are in the bank together and you pull out a gun. People might say he’s an accomplice, but he’s not.

By: PatrickL

PatrickL — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:10:24 +0000

Yes, but there is no use in actually acting out the threat since then you lose your leverage.

Also, this could potentially ruin Piquet’s career.

So all in all, if it was just a blackmail, then coming out with the secret is useless.

By: Bigbadderboom

Bigbadderboom — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:34:56 +0000

Read the forum

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/forum//topic.php?id=607&page=2#post-3809

And look at the F1sa link, there is an actual copy of Nelson jrs statement to the FIA, and it looks very genuine to me.

By: roser

roser — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:34:51 +0000

Another possible theory:
Since Flavio said that “Piquet at Singapore was in a very fragile state of mind”. Maybe he just wanted to commit suicide and he told it to Pat Symonds… then they could just talk about the best way of doing it…
This is nonsense, but also the whole thing, from the beginning.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:26:19 +0000

Is this news or just wishful thinking?

By: graigchq

graigchq — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:26:12 +0000

Renault out, LOLA or Prodrive in