Singapore 2008: Briatore and Symmonds resign

[Daniel]

Nothing either way. If his allegations are found to be true, no team will ever employ him, because he was a crap driver AND will be viewed with great suspicion. If they aren't, that all still applies, plus he'll be shown to be a liar — not a word to be thrown around lightly.

Very true, I could see a point to him lying if he was going to get something out of it but it just doesn't add up.

[BDunnell]

Very true, I could see a point to him lying if he was going to get something out of it but it just doesn't add up.

I ought to point out that, at present, my view is very much that it doesn't add up either way.

[Daniel]

True. Let's hope the truth comes out in the wash.

[Somebody]

I'm not a renault fan, but I am a fan of logic and reason. I cannot fathom that Renault,not fighting for a championship, in a terrible year, will all out of a sudden choose to instigate a situation that could easily backfire, and cost them a $100 mil fine, removal from the sport and about 400 jobs to give Alonso a race win at the latter stage of a meaningless seaosn to them, in a situation that could not even gurantee them the victory.

It's very simple - Renault were seriously considering shutting the R-F1 team down if they didn't get some sort of results and quickly. That would take care of the "removal from the sport and about 400 jobs" all by itself, without any regulatory prompting.

Or, as the PDF linked to puts it:

Briatore spoke to the Belgian stewards at length about Piquet’s emotional state — the ‘rogue employee’ defense — though he neglected to mention that he’d created it and repeatedly exacerbated it. What no one seems to have noted is the emotional state of Briatore and Symonds, among others in the team. At the time, there were serious questions about whether Renault president Carlos Ghosn would keep the team alive in 2009, having previously stated that the team had to perform. Both drivers were out of contention for the championship, but Piquet’s intentional crash was decisive in Alonso beating Nick Heidfeld to fifth, and it significantly helped Renault beat Toyota to fourth in the constructors’ championship. That’s motivation, and juries consider motivation

Maybe they thought as some people in this thread do - it was a race towards the end of the season, almost no-one would care, and those that would would keep their mouths shut for fear of driving Renault out of F1. If they truly believed that, they had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Getting the points for a win, and the jump from fifth to fourth in the WCC, meant a hefty chunk of change for the team all by itself, not to mention the marketing possibilities. If proven, that's WCC money defrauded from Toyota for starters, and points money defrauded from the teams that lost out in the shuffle created by the SC. Not to mention the effect on betting - most "match-fixing scandals" have revolved around betting (which often don't revolve around the actual result, but something trivial like the first throw-in). If they altered the result by dishonest or fraudulent means, they're liable to be sued by anyone who lost money betting on that race; never mind the potential criminal charges in Singapore, France (where Renault are based) and England & Wales (where the RF1 team are based).

[alcatrazhack]

Now Briatore indirectly implied that Piquet is gay.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78532
and Barrichello is upset about Briatore exposing Piquet's private life.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78577

[Daniel]

Now Briatore indirectly implied that Piquet is gay.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78532

What a d***head. I hope this turns out to be true so Flav can be banned for life from taking any part in F1.

[Dave B]

Does the phrase "dignified silence" mean nothing to these people? It's like Jordan and Peter Andre constantly popping up on my TV screen and writing endless magazine columns to tell us how they're keeping their thoughts private.

Come to think of it, maybe Jordan and Flavio use the same tanning salon...

[Daniel]

Does the phrase "dignified silence" mean nothing to these people? It's like Jordan and Peter Andre constantly popping up on my TV screen and writing endless magazine columns to tell us how they're keeping their thoughts private.

Come to think of it, maybe Jordan and Flavio use the same tanning salon...

I don't think he understands the meaning of either of those words

[ozrevhead]

what a idiot - sure be mad if you think youve been wrong but this is below the belt

wouldnt suprise me if flav has bullied the living daylights out of NPJ from the start

[Knock-on]

The lack of class from Flav is shocking.

I'm not a fan of his but what an mean, spitefull man he seems to be. Hope he gets the push.