16 Sep 2009

Formula One offer Renault man immunity over crashgate

7:27 am on 16 September 2009

Formula One's governing body has offered Renault's second-in-command immunity from punishment in exchange for full disclosure about "crashgate."

Pat Symonds, the director of engineering at Renault, has been told that if he comes clean over how and why Nelson Piquet junior drove his car into the barriers in the Singapore Grand Prix last year he'll escape punishment.

Piquet and his father, the three-time world champion Nelson Piquet senior, claim the Renault team conspired to fix the outcome of the Singapore Grand Prix.

It's been claimed Symonds not only asked Piquet to crash in the Singapore race but went through with him where the accident should happen, according to the Times newspaper.

Renault have been summoned to appear before the FIA next week to answer the allegations that Piquet was asked to crash, so as to ensure a win for team-mate Fernando Alonso.

Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore has denied all the accusations, saying they're "outrageous lies".