Formula One news
Ecclestone worries for Renault departure
01 September 2009Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone has admitted that he is apprehensive over the future of the Renault team in Formula One. The French marque is currently under scrutiny from governing body the FIA for claims that Nelson Piquet was instructed to crash in Singapore last year, handing victory to his team-mate.
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| Bernie Ecclestone, F1 commercial rights holder |
News in the Spa paddock of the FIA's probe came on Sunday night when then Paris-based federation announced that it was looking into one of last year's Grands Prix, strongly suspected to be Singapore, and an incident that saw a deliberate crash in order to aid the team; Piquet's shunt during the race saw the appearance of the safety car which, as leaders pitted, handed the top spot and eventual victory to Fernando Alonso.
"This is not the sort of thing we need at the moment," Ecclestone told The Times, as the Formula One Management (FOM) owner worries for Renault's future after the manufacturer exits of Honda in December and BMW at the end of this season. "I think it will p*** off Renault for a start. Them leaving the sport is a danger, obviously. I mean, I hope that it isn't like that, but it's the sort of thing that might happen."
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| "Flavio is insisting that he knows nothing," says Ecclestone |
Ecclestone added that the investigation, which was first triggered by reports on Brazilian television channel Globo, could have been started by the ousted Nelson Piquet Junior although the F1 supremo is unsure. "What I know, I can't say, to be honest with you," he continued. "All I know is that Flavio (Briatore, Renault Managing Director) is insisting that he knows nothing about it. I think the FIA are looking into everything, they are trying to find out the reality; I suppose they would be upset if they found out that what people are assuming is true, is in fact true, I suppose.
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| Ecclestone wonders whether the situation could simply have been triggered by a frustrated Piquet |
"The only way you could say there is a case to answer is if there is any real evidence. If it's just young Piquet saying this because he wants to say it, that's one thing. If, on the other hand, there's some reality to it, then it's all different. It will be difficult to prove. If there is something on the (team) radio that said, 'Err, Nelson, you'd better crash now,' then what the hell can they do? It depends exactly what comes out of the investigation."
Despite remaining hesitant over the issue, Ecclestone does believe that Piquet, who was replaced by Romain Grosjean from the European Grand Prix onwards, is likely to suffer ramifications of his own. "You can safely say that he's sort of in trouble now," Ecclestone added. "You'd have to wonder what next, wouldn't you?"
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