Pat Symonds archive
Who is Renault’s “Witness X”?
The FIA has formally published the widely-leaked evidence relating to Renault’s Singapore trial, along with various other documents including a 76-minute recording of the discussion at yesterday’s World Motor Sports Council meeting.
The material can be downloaded from the FIA website.
Although there isn’t much in the documents that hasn’t already been made public, there is one [...]
Nelson Piquet Jnr wants F1 return
Nelson Piquet Jnr has issued a statement following the Renault verdict in which he tries to wash his hands of the conspiracy.
Rather optimistically, he sets out his case for why he feels he should get an F1 drive in 2010:
I can only hope that a team will recognise how badly I was stifled at Renault [...]
No punishment for Briatore or Symonds?
An (un-bylined) article in the Daily Express suggests Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds may go unpunished for their role in the Renault crash scandal.
Having left Renault, Briatore and Symonds are no longer represented by a licence holder, and so cannot be punished:
Although the Council have unlimited power when it comes to imposing a penalty against [...]
Fernando Alonso should renounce his Singapore Grand Prix ‘win’
F1 has been dogged by scandal after scandal in recent years.
In 2005 we had the Indianapolis farce, two years later brought the ’spygate’ row, last year was dominated by Mosley’s sadomasochism scandal, and the first half of this year was taken up with the budget cap crisis.
But F1’s latest row, over Renault ordering Nelson Piquet [...]
David Richards to take over at Renault?
Much of the reaction to the departures of Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds from Renault have so far been focussed on what it says about the Singaproe crash scandal.
But the sudden loss of the managing director and director of engineering means the team are faced with a serious operational problem – assuming, of course, they [...]
Briatore and Symonds step down as Renault accepts Singapore crash charge
The Renault F1 team has confirmed it will not contest the FIA’s charges against the team over the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
This surprising development is tantamount to an admission that Nelson Piquet Jnr was instructed to crash to help Fernando Alonso win the race.
Renault has also revealed its managing director Flavio Briatore and director of [...]
Should the FIA have offered Pat Symonds immunity – and will he take it?
A surprising and quite telling development in the FIA’s investigation into the Renault Singapore crash came today as the governing body extended its offer of immunity to Pat Symonds.
The clear implication is the FIA believe Symonds know more than he has told them so far – and suspicion will inevitably fall on the next man [...]
Piquet-Renault scandal: more new evidence and complaints about leaks
Since Nelson Piquet Jnr’s statement leaked online yesterday the story has exploded, commanding back-page coverage on many of Britain’s daily papers and dominating the build-up to the Italian Grand Prix.
There are accusations of blackmail, complaints about the media’s handling of the story, more material appearing online and statements flying around. Here’s a quick summary of [...]
Pat Symonds: exclusive interview
Pat Symonds, executive director of engineering at Renault, was at the British Motor Show yesterday and I managed to get a brief five minute one-to-one chat with him.
He shared his thoughts on Fernando Alonso’s return to the team, Nelson Piquet Jnr’s drive to a surprise second at Hockenheim last weekend, and the team’s technical developments [...]
Your questions: Two hour time limit
Jonathan Markevich wrote in to ask:
I have been looking everywhere to find out why the two hour time limit was not enforced on the European GP last weekend. This should have had a big impact on Giancarlo Fisichella’s strategy, among others who might have short-fueled, presuming the race wouldn’t go 60 laps.
Any insights?
Sure enough [...]
