iSport's Motorsport Expert Kunal Shah is surprised with the penalties handed over to the ING Renault F1 Team over last years Singapore 'Crash-gate'. Was the penalty justified? Or did the manufacturer get away with a lenient FIA?
Oh-Ren-NO!
Well the FIA and WMSC verdict is out. After yet another special meeting that was called this year to discuss yet another grave issue [or ‘gate’] that hit Formula1 – the verdict revealed that Renault have been banned from Formula1 till 2011. Their Technical Director Pat Symmonds has been handed a 5 year ban whereas their Team Principal and Italian businessman Flavio Briatore has been banned from all FIA and Formula1 activities for life. While global reactions to the verdict are much awaited – one does feel that the FIA verdict is very much skewed and their system of handing over ‘penalties’ is not linear or justified.
A suspended 2 year ban and no financial penalty for the French based manufacturer did surprise one and many. Especially since a German manufacturer not more than 2 years back was fined a whooping $100 million for their alleged role in ‘not reporting’ an espionage attempt.
The FIA has dealt severely with the individuals involved – as with the previous case too. But this time around the manufacturer has been let off leniently and I state this only after comparing it with the Mclaren Spy-Gate issue of 2007. While the erring Mclaren and Ferrari employees were reprimanded severely in 2007 and so have Flavio and Pat – one does wonder why Renault have been let off. Comparatively, the ‘crash-gate’ had more evidence of cheating than the ‘spy-gate’. There was enough proof that the race was ‘fixed’ by the ING Renault F1 management and hence once would expect only a harsher penalty. Back in 2007, there were Ferrari drawings and dossiers that were found in the Mclaren factory in Woking, but there was never concrete evidence on whether these drawings were implemented in the Mclaren 2007 challenger.
One would only expect Renault to be charged a hefty fine – considering that the evidence in this case is much stronger. But then again, with the whims and fancies of Messers Bernie and Mosley and with Renault considering to quit the sport since their last World Title in 2006 – it seems the FIA and WMSC chose to purposely act in this fashion to avoid driving away yet another manufacturer.
However, with the controversies that have dogged Formula1 in 2009 – one wonders if Formula1 is not only loosing a manufacturer after another or even its global brand value! God Bless Formula1!
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a guest
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... Piquet Jr is such a Wuss.....backstabbing sissy A$$hole. He must learn to drive first and then try n open his shitty mouth |
a guest
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... while comparison with the mclaren saga is to be expected, i also find it a bit unfair because there is very little common ground. firstly the main prob with mclaren was not the "not reporting" part but the "lying" part during the hearing which totally disrespected the court. in the renault case this didt happen although briatore did deny it ,outside the court. Hoewever renault came clean immediately unlike mclaren and also sacked their major two bosses. secondly, while the evidence here was clear the evidence in mclaren's case was not, but thts only becuz it is not possible to fundamentally determine how much of the secrets are used. thirdly the circumstances where completely different. mclaren were challenging for top honours which renault was not. shud tht make a diff? maybe not but some mite deem it to be a factor. the finance crisis was not present and mclaren cud handle a big fine. a bigger company can be deterred only if their fine is substantial enuff to deter them, in this case renault's situation was already flimsy and a fine wud mean they wud be forced to get out of f1 which is bad for f1. im sure the fia wanted a bigger fine but kept this in mind. becuz in the end f1 had to win, no one else. plus renault having shown remorse and guilt clearly was gud enuff becuz a repeat offense is definitely unlikely and wud be suicidal actually. |
Asif Khan
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... Renault should have been kicked out for good, there should be no place for cheats in any sports! |
a guest
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... can't see why mclaren fans are trying to defend their team being brought into this. Mclaren cheated then as Renault did, you guys are cheats! |
Srikanth
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... the best part is im sure every guy out there in the paddock is secretly not surprised or shocked about any "cheating" scandal.....irvine says it as it is.....everyone does it all the time....most go undetected or most dont bother becuz they have their own skeletons to hide........its no big deal...... |
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