F1: FIA announces Renault verdict

[Rory Phoulorie]

The FIA has announced that Renault has been given a two-year suspended ban for the race fixing scandal that hit the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.



Following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris, the governing body revealed that Renault's actions – which it stated were of 'unparalleled severity' - were deemed serious enough to merit 'permanent disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship'.

However, with the team having admitted its guilt and taken steps to address the problem by removing both Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds from their roles, the decision was taken to suspend the disqualification until the end of the 2011 season. Any comparable breach during that time will see Renault's disqualification from the sport activated.

Renault has also agreed to make a significant contribution to FIA safety-related projects and will pay the costs incurred by the FIA during its investigation.

While Nelson Piquet Jr will not face any sanctions - having been granted immunity by the governing body in exchange for giving information against his former employers – the same can't be said for both Briatore and Symonds, who have been hit hard by the FIA.

The statement from the WMSC revealed that, for an unlimited period, 'the FIA does not intend to sanction any International Event, Championship, Cup, Trophy, Challenge or Series involving Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any Team or other entity engaging Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever. It also hereby instructs all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Briatore access to any areas under the FIA's jurisdiction'.

The former team principle will also face the prospect of losing a number of drivers currently under his management after the FIA revealed that it will not renew the superlicence of any driver associated with Briatore 'or any entity or individual associated with him'. Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen are amongst the drivers currently managed by the Italian.

Disgraced former director of engineering Symonds faces a similar ban for a period of five years.

The WMSC also reiterated that Alonso, the beneficiary of the incident as he secured victory in F1's first night race, was not involved in any way with what occurred.

Crash.net