Singapore 2008: Briatore and Symmonds resign

SD you brought up the notion of a 'political witchhunt' I was merely putting the whole topic aside - quite frankly my personal views on the matter are irrelevant to this discussion. Personally I would rather there was no case to be had, why - because it would show a manufacturer which has been 'true' to F1 since 1977 had been such.............if it turns out that they have cheated, and that Flavio was involved thus causing them to leave the sport then is that really so bad?

If Ferrari were in this position i'd be arguing for a full investigation and a just decision based on the FACTS, if it were McLaren the same and so on down the list of those involved in this sport. If a team cheats then they should be brought to justice. If they manipulate the rules in such a way to achieve their outcome without breaking any rules then we target the rulemakers - think Brawn at the start of the yr - why should ANY manufacturer be immune to investigation if there are reasonable grounds.................so far we have an investigation nothing more......if a ridiculous penalty is handed down then we should rightly complain and if Renault leave we are poorer for it, but if they are guilty then to let them off to keep them in the sport is ludicrous.

I think it is summed up nicely by Tumbo.

No one is above the law. Full stop.

Agree Tumbo...although if it were Ferrari or McLaren the two factions would be in all out war on this forum!!

I've read all about this but i still struggle to see how they will prove Renault did this aside from Piquet's testimony. And that's just his word. If an engineer also said the same under oath then things could get very, very interesting.

Evil Homer makes a valid point. The only person who can really prove this is PQ, and there is just no way he would be stupid enough to get up and say "yes I crashed on purpose" as it would have a huge impact on his own career tarnishing him as a cheat at the very least.

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Originally Posted by Sonic

Evil Homer makes a valid point. The only person who can really prove this is PQ, and there is just no way he would be stupid enough to get up and say "yes I crashed on purpose" as it would have a huge impact on his own career tarnishing him as a cheat at the very least.

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Piquet would be a cheat because he played the team game?!

The cheats in this case are first and foremost Renault for asking him to do this, I fail to see why you are piling it all on Piquet.

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Originally Posted by ioan

Piquet would be a cheat because he played the team game?!

The cheats in this case are first and foremost Renault for asking him to do this, I fail to see why you are piling it all on Piquet.

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Ioan, nobody has been found guilty yet.

There has been an allegation, and Renault have been called to answer a charge.

That does not mean jack. It certainly does not mean Renault have cheated, therefore nobody should state that they have cheated.

After the WMSC, then we will know. Until then, there is the basic fair principle of innocent until proven.

We don't know what "proof" there is. If any.

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Originally Posted by tamburello

Ioan, nobody has been found guilty yet.

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You're right. My bad, I should have used a big IF.

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Originally Posted by ioan

Piquet would be a cheat because he played the team game?!

The cheats in this case are first and foremost Renault for asking him to do this, I fail to see why you are piling it all on Piquet.

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I don't think I did "pile it all on Piquet". I suggested that if this has any basis in fact PQ jnr is one of the few who would have evidence and that he would be mad to admit that it had happened. Have you been following the "bloodgate" saga in rugby? I could see PQ facing the same kind of witch hunt if it were to be revealed that he played a part in cheating.

My personal option is that this is all going to fade away but its fun to speculate.

To be fair, that crash looked suspicious already in the beginning. However, it would be strange to put your driver's health to risk by ordering him to crash, but on the other hand it's Flavio we are talking about... But I'm not going to guess more until more evidence.

Thank goodness that unfair safety car rule is gone by now.

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Originally Posted by jens

To be fair, that crash looked suspicious already in the beginning. However, it would be strange to put your driver's health to risk by ordering him to crash, but on the other hand it's Flavio we are talking about... But I'm not going to guess more until more evidence.

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Put his life at risk?
Since when is life at risk in a F1 car crashing at under 100kmh? Especially IF the move is premeditated and well executed?

There are stuntmen out there crashing several times a day because they are told to do so and no one seem to care much about their lives.