The decision by the FIA to offer Pat Symonds, the director of engineering at the Renault Formula One team, immunity from punishment in the “Crashgate” scandal follows two interviews of him by stewards at the Belgian Grand Prix last month in which Symonds refused to comment on or deny claims made against him.
However, he did admit, in an important answer, that the subject of causing a deliberate crash in the Singapore Grand Prix last year had been raised in a meeting with Nelson Piquet Jr, the former Renault driver. “Nelson had spoken to me the day before and suggested that,” he told the stewards. “That’s all I’d really like to say.”
Symonds refused to discuss Piquet’s claims that he had told the Brazilian on what lap and at what point on the circuit to crash and nor would he go into further detail about what might have been said during a tactical meeting with Piquet just before the race, which was also attended by Flavio Briatore, the Renault team principal.
In remarks which could be seen to presage a deal between him and the FIA, Symonds who has enjoyed a distinguished career in Formula One and is regarded as an old hand in the paddock, told the investigating stewards: “I have no intention of lying to you. I have not lied to you, but I have reserved my position just a little.”
Reviewing the interviews, the stewards concluded that Symonds’s failure to answer key questions suggested that a meeting with Piquet before the race had taken place in Briatore’s office in the Renault motorhome in Singapore, that a deliberate crash was discussed and that Symonds had indicated to Piquet afterwards, as the Brazilian has alleged, where to effect the accident to ensure the safety car was called out. Times Online
Former driver Piquet and his father, three-time world champion Nelson Piquet senior, have claimed that the Renault team conspired to fix the outcome of the Singapore Grand Prix, in a blow to the sport’s reputation.
Renault have been summoned to appear before the FIA’s International Motor Sport Council in Paris on September 21 to answer the allegations that Piquet was asked to crash his car deliberately into a wall during the race and so facilitate a victory for team-mate Fernando Alonso.
Renault in response have accused Piquet of blackmail and announced they were launching criminal proceedings against him and his father.
Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore has denied all the accusations against him—notably conspiring with team management and Piquet to cause a deliberate accident—saying they were “outrageous lies”. AFP
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