FIA Launches Probe into Possible Cheating Scandal
The FIA has launched an investigation of a highly-sensitive nature regarding a previous Formula 1 race result. It is understood motor sport’s world governing body is looking into the events of last season’s inaugural Singapore Grand Prix.
The race, which made history as it was the first night event run under floodlights, was won by Renault’s double world champion Fernando Alonso. During the race Alonso’s then team-mate Nelson Piquet, who was axed by the French manufacturer last month following a string of poor results, crashed on lap 14, bringing out the safety car.
The FIA last night refused to specifically divulge either the race concerned or the circumstances that have resulted in them making their inquiries.
Following the weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix an FIA spokesperson simply stated: “The FIA can confirm that an investigation is under way regarding alleged events at a previous world championship race.”
Grand Prix supremo Ecclestone said: “This is not good for the sport. I do not know if it is true or not. I have no idea.
“But if it is true, then I would have thought Nelson was in just as much trouble. If I tell you to go and rob a bank and you get caught, you can’t say, ‘Bernie told me to’.
“But if the investigations find out that is what happened there is going to be a lot of trouble.
“But it could just be a rumour and Nelson is just pissed off that he has been fired.”
Renault has said they will contest the allegations, which surfaced in Brazil, as the work of embittered fans of Piquet, whose father was a three-times world champion. Piquet junior departed the team with a fierce blast at team principal Flavio Briatore, his manager and boss – calling him “an executioner”.
The FIA could send the case to the World Motor Sport Council, which has the power to boot Renault out of F1.
IN RELATED Renault news: Giancarlo Fisichella, the man who stood the Formula One on its ear at Spa over the weekend may learn within the next couple of days whether he will partner the Finn in the Ferrari team next week.
Ferrari are unlikely to use Luca Badoer on their home track after another feeble performance in finishing last in Belgium, but they also want to wait for the result of a medical examination on the injured Felipe Massa.
The Brazilian is currently in Miami, undergoing tests, one of which he told his engineer Rob Smedley last Saturday, “was 100pc better than they expected.”
Domenicali has ruled out reports of Renault’s Fernando Alonso — long believed to be a Ferrari driver from 2010 — making an early switch.
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The FIA would not confirm that it was investigating that particular incident, only “alleged incidents at a previous Formula One world championship event.”
This has all the cred of a story you would see on Fox news. A investigation into a alleged incident at a unnamed previous race.
That being said, re the story on Globo in Brazil, is it possible that someone in the Piquet camp leaked this through the back door to stick it in Flav, even if it is groundless.
At this point I think anything possible, up to and including Max having his “last word” while on the way out the door.