Briatore, Symonds, leave Renault team

 Briatore, Symonds, leave Renault team
Pat Symonds (GBR) and Flavio Briatore (ITA), Renault F1 Team, Malaysian Grand Prix, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 02.04.2009 / Copyright: Charniaux / xpb

Renault boss Flavio Briatore and his engineering deputy Pat Symonds "have left the team", it was announced in a short media statement on Wednesday.

The Enstone based outfit, owned 100 per cent by the French carmaker Renault SA, also revealed that it will "not dispute the recent allegations" about the 2008 Singapore grand prix at the World Motor Sport Council hearing on 21 September.

It is a dramatic change of position for Renault, whose Briatore said at the previous Monza and Spa-Francorchamps races that he denies Nelson Piquet's claims about his Singapore crash being deliberate.

Symonds, however, had told FIA investigators that a deliberate crash - albeit he claims suggested by Piquet - was at least discussed prior to the inaugural Singapore night race.

At Monza, a media statement said 59-year-old Italian Briatore as well as the Renault team he leads had commenced criminal proceedings in France against the sacked driver and would alert the UK police about the "false allegations" and "blackmail".

Briatore's career in formula one and with the team dates back to its days as Benetton 20 years ago. Symonds, 56, has been with the team even longer, when in the early 80s it was known as Toleman.

 

Source: GMM

Add a Comment

Comments (11)

Subscribe to comments
 kuklukklak kuklukklak
The two most important men of Renault have gone. It's a pity not to see Briatore's face at the pit lane again.
September 16, 2009 11:59 am
 TorroRosso TorroRosso
I wonder if this is a signal that the allegations are correct.
September 16, 2009 12:02 pm
 sideskraper sideskraper
Renault will not dispute the FIA allegations.
September 16, 2009 12:57 pm
 astroturf777 astroturf777
great news. he's a pig. it is impossible that a man who is co-owner of a football team with bernie - rights holder to the sport he is employed in - was ever anything but a conflict of interest. now we know he's a cheat we have to wonder whether rules were bent to assist renault to beat ferrari in 05...
September 16, 2009 12:08 pm
 astroturf777 astroturf777
mind you at least they've acted with a bit of honor. good of them to leave and at least give renault a chance to rebuild and not just walk away from f1
September 16, 2009 12:11 pm
 Bristol411S3 Bristol411S3
This is tantamount to admitting guilt as charged and taking measures to ensure the punishment isn't too severe. This has still to be handed out to Renault at the MSC meeting on 22 Sept. They won't get off without some sentence. So it seems Piquet was telling the truth. Not sure this whole episode has reflected well on him as a driver though. I'm not too bothered about Briatore going but seeing Pat Symonds leave under a cloud is sad.
September 16, 2009 2:06 pm
 Viking79 Viking79
Great for Piquet. He was lead to believe that his crashing would have proven his team allegence, and that his contract would be extended, then Flavio sacks him. When he initially brings the crash allegations forward, Nelson is branded a liar. Could not be happier for Piquet and hopefully he can secure another ride for 2010.
September 16, 2009 3:45 pm
 catchmyshadow catchmyshadow
i am pretty sure both lied and cheated, so they better fook off yeah
September 16, 2009 3:47 pm
 nickmini nickmini
Briatone always play cheap & dirty so he got what he deserved. But for Pat Symonds this is a very sad ending.
September 16, 2009 3:49 pm
September 16, 2009 8:55 pm
 Targa_Florio Targa_Florio
By approving (and maybe proposing) this crash strategy, Nelson is as guilty as the Renault team!
September 17, 2009 9:36 am