[F1] F1 Nieuwtjestopic #55 - Flavio aan de schandpaal?

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Op vrijdag 18 september 2009 12:38 schreef voyeur het volgende:

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Alonso, ING, Santander en Renault zelf. Dat is aardig wat druk, maar om daar Nelson JR voor te offeren blijft te grof voor woorden.
Flavio heeft zijn vorige gevangenisstraf wegens fraude nooit uitgezeten. Hij is toen ontsnapt naar de Virgin eilanden (die daarna vermoedelijk een nieuwe naam nodig hadden Flavio kennende). Ik hoop dat hij deze keer wel door justitie in de kraag gepakt wordt. Nelson Sr is niet een man die de dingen laat rusten!

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Op vrijdag 18 september 2009 12:35 schreef ziggyziggyziggy het volgende:
Lang leve de online vertaalsites.
[..]

En het gaat nog verder op http://plansmotorsport.ed(...)-resolution-on-hold/

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Irvine: "De Formule 1 moet Renault niet wegjagen"

Volgens Eddie Irvine is er niet zo veel bijzonders aan de tactiek die Renault gebruikte om de Grand Prix van Singapore van vorig jaar te winnen. De Ier zou het dom vinden als de FIA Renault 'wegjaagt'.

"In de liefde en in de oorlog is alles geoorloofd en het is zeker oorlog op de baan", zei Irvine tegenover de BBC. "Toen ik nog mee reed, deed je alles om te winnen. Dat was normaal. Deze kwestie is waarschijnlijk niet acceptabel, maar in het verleden deed ieder team alles om te winnen. Valsspelen, de regels 'anders' interpreteren, de regels overtreden, anderen saboteren..."

"Maar de Formule 1 kan het zich niet veroorloven om nog meer teams te verliezen. Er zijn een paar teams die onzeker lijken en de Formule 1 moet Renault niet wegjagen.

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Op zaterdag 19 september 2009 14:19 schreef Atreidez het volgende:
Zit op Eurosport Formule Renault te kijken, rijdt die Alguersuari gewoon nog mee Die kan geen genoeg van racen krijgen zo te zien..

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MIRROR : Stunned Alonso is called to face 'fix' hearing
^20/09/2009

FORMULA 1 EXCLUSIVE: EX-CHAMP SUMMONED

Fernando Alonso has received a shock summons to tomorrow's World Council meeting in Paris over the Singapore race fix.

The double world champion was stunned when he learned on Friday, just three days before the meeting, that he must appear before one of the biggest hearings in the sport's history.

Until then the most successful driver on the current Grand Prix grid thought he was not involved.

The hearing will examine allegations that his Renault team arranged a crash during the sport's first night race in Singapore 12 months ago so that he could win. Former team-mate Nelson Piquet Jnr is claiming the request came from team boss Flavio Briatore (below) and technical head Pat Symonds.

Spanish star Alonso has always insisted he was never told of the events going on behind the scenes.

Even though Piquet's father, triple world champion Nelson Piquet Snr, has insisted the Renault racer must have known, FIA President Max Mosley said last week Alonso was not involved in their investigation.

Symonds, allegedly one of the chief architects of the plan and currently holidaying in Spain, has not been called, but Alonso and Briatore have.

Paddock sources yesterday said Alonso could be questioned more closely over Briatore's role in events in Singapore and the sport generally. Some believe Alonso will be questioned over the 59-yearold playboy's ruthless methods as a manager. As well as being in line for a lifetime ban from the sport, Briatore could also be barred from managing F1 drivers, which earns him millions every year.

His stable current includes Alonso, Piquet, Roman Grosjean, Heikki Kovalainen, Mark Webber and others.

While Symonds has admitted discussions did take place with the Brazilian driver before the race in Singapore, he has insisted it was Piquet's idea to cause the crash and a that he did not take the conversation seriously at the time. Briatore has always protested his innocence and even after parting company with Renault unexpectedly on Wednesday he said it was done for the good of the team.

However, the French car giant has already announced it will not contest the allegations at tomorrow's hearing. But a high powered delegation from Renault, including lawyers, is expected to attend.

Yesterday there were yet more revelations over one of the darkest episodes in the sport's history.

The Sunday Mirror has seen documents that will go before the court from Piquet Snr claiming his son was persuaded to re-sign for Renault at the end of last year having been told by Briatore that Alonso was signing for Ferrari for 2010 and he could become the Renault No.1. And Carlos Gracia, the head of the Spaniard motorsport federation, slammed the decision to give Piquet Jnr immunity as "shameless".

But Gracia backed Renault, who face the wrath of the FIA for the actions of two employees.

He added: "It's a company that has been in motorsport for many years, without any kind of immorality, and if the immorality was caused because of those two gentlemen, it's a good thing that they are out of Formula 1."

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MIRROR : McLAREN CLOSE IN ON KIMI
^20/09/2009

Lewis Hamilton faces the scrap of his life next season if McLaren pull off plans to sign Ferrari ace Kimi Raikkonen.

Paddock sources say the Finn, 29, has signed an outline agreement to return to the car he won the world title with in 2007.

But first he has to settle a dispute with his current employers. He is refusing to step down unless he is paid all of his 2010 £30m salary.

The deal could explain McLaren's increasingly tense relationship with engine supplier Mercedes, who wanted German Nico Rosberg in the car.

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Paddock sources say the Finn, 29, has signed an outline agreement to return to the car he won the world title with in 2007.

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Op zondag 20 september 2009 11:13 schreef Atreidez het volgende:
The mirror is toch geen goeie bron voor sportnieuws, zoiezo al wat er staat over Kimi's titel;
[..]

In 2007 zat ie al bij Ferrari

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Op zondag 20 september 2009 11:13 schreef Atreidez het volgende:
The mirror is toch geen goeie bron voor sportnieuws, zoiezo al wat er staat over Kimi's titel;
[..]

In 2007 zat ie al bij Ferrari

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SPEEDTV.COM : F1: Raikkonen Signs With McLaren - Report
^{09/20/2009 - GMM Newswire}

Kimi Raikkonen has signed an "outline agreement" to kick off a second tenure with the McLaren team beginning in 2010, the Mirror newspaper reported on Sunday.

The British newspaper said the 29-year-old Finn, who raced with the Woking based outfit between 2002 and 2006, must first reach an agreement with Ferrari, with whom he is under contract for one more season.

The Mirror cited "paddock sources" in claiming that Raikkonen is prepared to vacate his contracted Ferrari seat in 2010, but only if the famous Italian outfit pays "all of his 2010 ... salary".

The newspaper estimated Raikkonen's 2010 Ferrari contract
at nearly $49m USD.

The report also said the news ties in with Nico Rosberg's link with Brawn and the Brackley team's burgeoning relationship with Mercedes-Benz.

The German manufacturer Mercedes was said to be pushing for Rosberg to replace Heikki Kovalainen at McLaren, but may now have resolved to push the German driver to Brawn and increase its involvement with the Ross Brawn-led outfit.

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Briatore not present for crash-gate hearing
^{Mon, 21 Sep 10:51:38 2009}

Flavio Briatore did not as expected turn up for the start of Monday's World Motor Sport Council hearing into the 'crash-gate' affair.

The 59-year-old Italian has already departed the French team, as has former engineering chief Pat Symonds, who is reportedly currently holidaying in Spain.

Renault will not deny the race-fixing allegations in Paris, but it had been expected that the viability of Briatore's ongoing role in charge of his driver management company FFBB would be probed.

For Briatore, the collapse of his Formula One career has been spectacular, with Max Mosley suggesting during the recent breakaway crisis that the Italian saw himself "as the Bernie" of a new championship.

"Many believed he was Bernie Ecclestone's natural successor and if Bernie was run over by a bus then Flavio would have had my vote," Martin Brundle wrote in his latest column for the Sunday Times.

But F1 chief executive Ecclestone disputes that Briatore was eying a long-term future in motorsport. “He told me recently he didn't want to finish up like me," he told the Daily Mirror, "playing with racing cars at my age. So at least he's been saved that embarrassment."

Briatore may also find himself with much more spare time in the near future. No longer involved with Renault, his role with the London football club Queens Park Rangers is now under the spotlight.

An associate close to Lakshmi Mittal said the Indian billionaire is concerned about the crash-gate affair and is considering whether the best way forward would be to buy Flavio out of QPR, according to the Telegraph.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 11:37 schreef Atreidez het volgende:
Kimi en Lewis in 1 team Ik ben voorlopig nog een tijdje McLaren fan geloof ik...

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 12:12 schreef LeXX het volgende:

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McLaren zonder Fin is ook niet meer denkbaar... Volgens mij vanaf 1994 onafgebroken (Hakkinen, Raikkonen, Kovalainen)! En Rosberg en McLaren was in de jaren 80 al een goede combinatie, wellicht komt dat wanneer Raikkonen toch bedenkt dat WRC leuker is

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The driver market too has been put on hold because of the Renault events - with the futures of Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen and Robert Kubica all hanging on what happens to the Enstone-based team.

Although Alonso is still favourite to join Ferrari in 2010, if there is no space for him at the Maranello-based team then Renault was his obvious fallback option.

Raikkonen is understood to have been considering an option to join Renault as Alonso's replacement if the Spaniard takes his place at Ferrari. The Finn's plans are obviously awaiting news of the FIA case - as he also ponders options he has at McLaren and Brawn GP.

Kubica is also believed to have an outline agreement with Renault already in place, but he may well believe his future is best placed taking an option he has at Williams if the outcome of today is too negative.

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Alleen heeft Nico de Duitse nationaliteit.

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Aanwezig
Niet alleen Alonso is afgereisd naar Parijs, ook Nelson Piquet, Renault F1-president Bernard Rey en pr-baas Jean-Francois Caubet zijn aanwezig.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 11:56 schreef Googolplexian het volgende:

[..]

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 12:30 schreef Kleffe_Dop het volgende:

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Flav zit zeker alweer lang en breed op de Virgin Islands?

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 12:33 schreef Googolplexian het volgende:

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Brawn Islands?

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 12:12 schreef LeXX het volgende:

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McLaren zonder Fin is ook niet meer denkbaar... Volgens mij vanaf 1993 onafgebroken (Hakkinen, Raikkonen, Kovalainen)! En Rosberg en McLaren was in de jaren 80 al een goede combinatie, wellicht komt dat wanneer Raikkonen toch bedenkt dat WRC leuker is

Edit: 2007 was natuurlijk Fin-loos...

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The World Motor Sport Council considers Renault F1’s breaches relating to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to be of unparalleled severity. Renault F1’s breaches not only compromised the integrity of the sport but also endangered the lives of spectators, officials, other competitors and Nelson Piquet Jr. himself. The World Motor Sport Council considers that offences of this severity merit permanent disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship. However, having regard to the points in mitigation mentioned above and in particular the steps taken by Renault F1 to identify and address the failings within its team and condemn the actions of the individuals involved, the WMSC has decided to suspend Renault F1’s disqualification until the end of the 2011 season. The World Motor Sport Council will only activate this disqualification if Renault F1 is found guilty of a comparable breach during that time.

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It also hereby instructs all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Briatore access to any areas under the FIA’s jurisdiction. Furthermore, it does not intend to renew any Superlicence granted to any driver who is associated (through a management contract or otherwise) with Mr. Briatore, or any entity or individual associated with Mr. Briatore.

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As regards Mr. Symonds, the World Motor Sport Council declares that, for a period of five years, the FIA does not intend to sanction any International Event, Championship, Cup, Trophy, Challenge or Series involving Mr. Symonds in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any Team or other entity engaging Mr. Symonds in any capacity whatsoever.

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Suspended ban for Renault. Unlimited ban for Briatore from FIA events, no new Superlicences for his drivers. Next move is the FA's...

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 14:26 schreef ArcticBlizzard het volgende:
Heeft iemand een lijstje men huidige f1 coureurs die onder het management van flavio vallen?

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Renault given two-year suspended ban
^{By Jonathan Noble Monday, September 21st 2009, 12:14 GMT}

Renault has been handed a two-year suspended ban for its involvement in fixing the result of last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

The FIA has also stated that former team principal Flavio Briatore will face a lifetime ban from involvement in any of its series - and for anyone involved with him.

Former director of engineering Pat Symonds has been given an effective five-year ban from involvement in FIA-sanctioned motorsport.

More to follow.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 14:29 schreef Googolplexian het volgende:

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 14:30 schreef bodylotion het volgende:

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Kan Flavio GP2 ook vergeten zeker?

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 14:29 schreef bodylotion het volgende:

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uit mijn hoofd zijn dat Alonso, Piquet Jr ( ), Kovaleinen en Webber

Maar ze bedoelen dat nieuwe coureurs van Flav geen licentie krijgen?

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The full verdict from the FIA's WMSC
^{Monday, September 21st 2009, 12:21 GMT}

At an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council held in Paris on 21 September 2009, the ING Renault F1 team ("Renault F1") admitted that the team had conspired with its driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, in breach of the International Sporting Code and F1 Sporting Regulations.

Renault F1 stated at the meeting that it had conducted a detailed internal investigation, which found that: Flavio Briatore, Pat Symonds and Nelson Piquet Jr. had conspired to cause the crash; and (ii) no other team member was involved in the conspiracy.

The FIA has conducted its own detailed investigation and its findings correspond with those of Renault F1.

At the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, Renault F1 made the following points in mitigation:

- it had accepted, at the earliest practicable opportunity, that it committed the offences with which it was charged and cooperated fully with the FIA's investigation;
- it had confirmed that Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds were involved in the conspiracy and ensured that they left the team;
- it apologised unreservedly to the FIA and to the sport for the harm caused by its actions;
- it committed to paying the costs incurred by the FIA in its investigation; and
- Renault (the parent company, as opposed to Renault F1) committed to making a significant contribution to FIA safety-related projects.

Nelson Piquet Jr. also apologised unreservedly to the World Motor Sport Council for his part in the conspiracy.

The following decision was taken:

The World Motor Sport Council finds that Renault F1 team members Flavio Briatore, Pat Symonds and Nelson Piquet Jr. conspired to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. The World Motor Sport Council therefore finds Renault F1, which, under article 123 of the International Sporting Code, is responsible for the actions of its employees, in breach of Articles 151(c) and point 2(c) of Chapter IV of Appendix L of the Code, and Articles 3.2, 30.3 and/or 39.1 of the Formula One Sporting Regulations.

The World Motor Sport Council considers Renault F1's breaches relating to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to be of unparalleled severity. Renault F1's breaches not only compromised the integrity of the sport but also endangered the lives of spectators, officials, other competitors and Nelson Piquet Jr. himself. The World Motor Sport Council considers that offences of this severity merit permanent disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship. However, having regard to the points in mitigation mentioned above and in particular the steps taken by Renault F1 to identify and address the failings within its team and condemn the actions of the individuals involved, the WMSC has decided to suspend Renault F1's disqualification until the end of the 2011 season. The World Motor Sport Council will only activate this disqualification if Renault F1 is found guilty of a comparable breach during that time.

In addition the World Motor Sport Council notes Renault F1's apology and agrees that the team should pay the costs of the investigation. It also accepts the offer of a significant contribution to the FIA's safety work.

As regards Mr. Briatore, the World Motor Sport Council declares that, for an unlimited period, the FIA does not intend to sanction any International Event, Championship, Cup, Trophy, Challenge or Series involving Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any Team or other entity engaging Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever. It also hereby instructs all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Briatore access to any areas under the FIA's jurisdiction. Furthermore, it does not intend to renew any Superlicence granted to any driver who is associated (through a management contract or otherwise) with Mr. Briatore, or any entity or individual associated with Mr. Briatore. In determining that such instructions should be applicable for an unlimited period, the World Motor Sport Council has had regard not only to the severity of the breach in which Mr. Briatore was complicit but also to his actions in continuing to deny his participation in the breach despite all the evidence.

As regards Mr. Symonds, the World Motor Sport Council declares that, for a period of five years, the FIA does not intend to sanction any International Event, Championship, Cup, Trophy, Challenge or Series involving Mr. Symonds in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any Team or other entity engaging Mr. Symonds in any capacity whatsoever. It hereby instructs, for a period of five years, all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Symonds access to any areas under the FIA's jurisdiction. In determining that such instructions should be effective for a period of five years the World Motor Sport Council has had regard: to Mr. Symonds' acceptance that he took part in the conspiracy; and (ii) to his communication to the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council that it was to his "eternal regret and shame" that he participated in the conspiracy.

As regards Mr. Piquet Jr., the World Motor Sport Council confirms the immunity from individual sanctions under the International Sporting Code in relation to this incident, which the FIA had granted to him in exchange for volunteering his evidence.

As regards Fernando Alonso, the World Motor Sport Council thanks him for cooperating with the FIA's enquiries and for attending the meeting, and concludes that Mr. Alonso was not in any way involved in Renault F1's breach of the regulations.

The World Motor Sport Council would like to thank the Stewards and legal investigation team (in particular Dorothy Cory-Wright of Sidley Austin LLP who conducted the interviews at the Belgian Grand Prix).

The full reasons for this decision, in addition to a complete recording of the proceedings before the World Motor Sport Council, will be made available shortly.

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However, having regard to the points in mitigation mentioned above and in particular the steps taken by Renault F1 to identify and address the failings within its team and condemn the actions of the individuals involved, the WMSC has decided to suspend Renault F1's disqualification until the end of the 2011 season. The World Motor Sport Council will only activate this disqualification if Renault F1 is found guilty of a comparable breach during that time.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 14:44 schreef Glijdt_licht het volgende:
Waarom een voorwaaardelijke uitsluiting van 2 jaar. Bah. Dit had harder gemoeten.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 14:44 schreef Glijdt_licht het volgende:
Waarom een voorwaaardelijke uitsluiting van 2 jaar. Bah. Dit had harder gemoeten.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 14:52 schreef Googolplexian het volgende:

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Ik snap hier echt niets van ... McLaren kreeg 100m boete plus werd geschrapt uit het kampioenschap voor dat jaar ... en dit kost Renault NIETS?!

Ja ... bad publicity, maar daar had McLaren ook last van.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 14:52 schreef Googolplexian het volgende:

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Ik snap hier echt niets van ... McLaren kreeg 100m boete plus werd geschrapt uit het kampioenschap voor dat jaar ... en dit kost Renault NIETS?!

Ja ... bad publicity, maar daar had McLaren ook last van.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 14:59 schreef ArcticBlizzard het volgende:

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Omdat ze bij mclaren bedrijfsinfo hebben gebruikt voor het ontwikkelen van hun eigen auto, daarbij werd daarover nog gelogen ook.

Mij renault hebben ze eenmaling iets gedaan, en hebben meteen degene die hier verantwoordelijk voor waren de deur gewezen. Ook hebben ze de aanklacht niet betwist.

De houding, handelingen en duur van het incident is dus zeer waarschijnlijk zeer bepalen geweest voor de straf.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 14:59 schreef ArcticBlizzard het volgende:

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Omdat ze bij mclaren bedrijfsinfo hebben gebruikt voor het ontwikkelen van hun eigen auto, daarbij werd daarover nog gelogen ook.

Mij renault hebben ze eenmaling iets gedaan, en hebben meteen degene die hier verantwoordelijk voor waren de deur gewezen. Ook hebben ze de aanklacht niet betwist.

De houding, handelingen en duur van het incident is dus zeer waarschijnlijk zeer bepalen geweest voor de straf.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 15:40 schreef Gauner het volgende:
Volledige verbazing over de straf, ik had op z'n minst een flinke boete en uitsluiting voor dit jaar verwacht.
Maar aan de andere kant ben ik er ook wel blij om. Als Renault ook nog weg zou moeten krijgen we straks 6 nieuwe, nietszeggende, teams volgend jaar, daar zit ik ook niet om te springen.

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FIA announces 19-race 2010 calendar

The FIA's World Motor Sport Council has announced a 19-race calendar for the 2010 season, confirming the return of Canada.

The governing body also confirmed South Korea will make its debut in Formula 1 next year with an October date.

Next year's championship will begin in Bahrain, as reported earlier this year by AUTOSPORT, with Australia moving to second place on the calendar.

Canada, absent from this year's calendar, will return on a June date subject to the completion of contract talks with FOM.

Brazil will close the season on 14 November.

14/3 Bahrain
28/3 Australia
04/4 Malaysia
18/4 China
09/5 Spain
23/5 Monaco
30/5 Turkey
13/6 Canada*
27/6 Europe (Valencia)
11/7 Great Britain
25/7 Germany
01/8 Hungary
29/8 Belgium
12/9 Italy
26/9 Singapore
03/10 Japan
17/10 Korea
31/10 Abu Dhabi
14/11 Brazil


* Subject to the completion of contract negotiations with Formula One Management. If these are not completed then the Turkish Grand Prix will be moved to 6 June.

Note: The race in Australia will start at 1700 local time, in Malaysia at 1600 local time, in Singapore at 2000 local time, and in Abu Dhabi at 1700 local time.

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FIA agrees to engine re-equalisation

The FIA has agreed to allow a re-equalisation of engines in Formula 1 next year, but has said moves will only be done so by pegging back the best power units.

Last year, Renault was allowed to re-tune its engine to help bring its performance up to the level of its rivals - with some manufacturers having benefited from minor tweaking during the engine freeze.

Calls for a further parity re-emerged after the Italian Grand Prix, when many teams believed that Mercedes-Benz had opened up a clear advantage at the front of the field.

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner told AUTOSPORT at Monza: "I think it is something that perhaps needs to be carefully looked at.

"The FIA has all the information they can see where the differences are on, I don't think it is a coincidence that you have three Mercedes-powered teams that dominated six out of the top seven places in qualifying and looked dominant again here in the race today.

"So, the FIA I am sure, they have all that information to hand, but it is always the danger of a freeze that you can freeze in a competitive advantage."

Teams are set to discuss the matter soon and the FIA has made it clear that it will allow changes to be made – but not by bringing the worst power units up to the level of the best.

In a statement issued after the FIA World Motor Sport Council hearing on Monday, the governing body said: "Following suggestions that there is a differential between the performance of engines used in Formula 1, the World Motor Sport Council has decided that should this be the case, and should the teams wish to eliminate this performance differential, they may be allowed to do so by reducing the performance of the more powerful engines. However, no engine upgrades will be allowed."

This could result in Mercedes-Benz being forced to make changes to its engine to bring its performance back down to the level of its rivals, although achieving this will be far from straightforward.

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The F.I.A. has decided that they will not issue a racing licence to any driver associated with Briatore in any way...

That includes Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso, Heiki Kovalainen and Romain Grosjean... So they either have to take their accounts from FFBB (Briatore's managing firm), or Briatore has to sell it... Completely... Hehehehehehe... He doesn't even have a wife to transfer a part of the stocks...LOL

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Renault: got off lightly?
^{Monday September 21, 2009 7 Comments}

The FIA has today given Renault a two-year suspended ban from Formula 1 for their part in the Crashgate scandal.

Former team boss Flavio Briatore has been banned for life from any FIA-sanctioned event, and any driver associated with the Italian will not have their Superlicence renewed should Briatore still be their manager come the beginning of next season.

So that’s Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Heikki Kovalainen and Romain Grosjean about to terminate Flav’s services.

Ex-technical director Pat Symonds is banned from all FIA events for five years.

It’s a messy end for two very clever, successful men who have had a huge influence on F1, but it’s also a fitting punishment for a pair of cheats.

However, the Renault team seem to have got off lightly, walking away with no more than a nominal slapped wrist.

In 2007, McLaren were fined $100 million for their part in the Spygate fiasco, even though team boss Ron Dennis resigned to pursue McLaren’s roadcar aspirations, a move thought to have occurred in order to appease the FIA.

Yet McLaren didn’t endanger anyone’s life, whereas Renault’s actions put not only the life of their young driver Nelson Piquet Jnr at risk, but also those of other drivers, track marshals and so on.

You can’t help but wonder if this punishment fits the crime, in light of the precedent set by the McLaren fine.

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Statement Renault na uitspraak WMSC

President Bernard Rey van Renault F1 heeft na de uitspraak van de World Motor Sport Council in Parijs de volgende verklaring gegeven

Bedroefd
"We zijn bedroefd dat we ons vandaag (maandag, red.) moeten verantwoorden voor de World Motor Sport Council. Na intern onderzoek hebben we de FIA vorige week ingelicht dat we de aanklacht accepteren en we onze verantwoordelijkheid nemen in relatie tot het incident in Singapore. We hebben meteen binnen het team de noodzakelijke maatregelen ondernomen."


Excuses
"We accepteren het besluit van de council. We bieden onze excuses aan aan de Formule 1-gemeenschap vanwege ons onacceptabele gedrag. We hopen oprecht dat we deze zaak zo snel mogelijk achter ons kunnen laten en ons constructief op de toekomst kunnen richten. Verdere informatie zullen we de komende dagen naar buiten brengen".

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 18:18 schreef Sally het volgende:

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En jij denkt dat Alonso dat toe zal staan, dat zijn team eruit stapt?

Ik denk dat Renault in z'n handjes knijpt nu met die milde straf.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 18:27 schreef vosss het volgende:
Ik vind de straf ook veel te laag, maar wie weet is er in achterkamertjes gewoon besproken van jongens, jullie komen weg met een voorwaardelijke straf als jullie zelf de stekker eruit trekken en anders moeten jullie heel diep in de buidel gaan tasten.

Ik denk in ieder geval dat het laatste er nog niet over gezegd is en ben benieuwd of Renault aan blijft of niet

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Engines - who has how many left?

Each driver may use a maximum of eight engines this season. Anything beyond that and they get a ten-place grid penalty per additional engine. With just four races remaining, most drivers are getting near the end of their allocation, meaning reliability will play an increasingly important role as the 2009 campaign approaches its finale.

Below is a list of how many new engines each driver has used thus far. If you drive a Renault, or have a Ferrari V8 behind you, then things are looking pretty rosy. If your name is Vettel, however, then you are probably slightly worried. The one unknown, of course, is how many of each driver’s used engines is still useable - and how much life each has left in it…

McLaren-Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton - 7
Heikki Kovalainen - 7

Ferrari
Giancarlo Fisichella - 6
Kimi Raikkonen - 6

BMW Sauber
Robert Kubica - 7
Nick Heidfeld - 7

Renault (boooo)
Fernando Alonso - 6
Romain Grosjean - 6

Toyota
Jarno Trulli - 7
Timo Glock - 7

STR-Ferrari
Jaime Alguersuari - 6
Sebastien Buemi - 6

RBR-Renault
Mark Webber - 7
Sebastian Vettel - 8

Williams-Toyota
Nico Rosberg - 7
Kazuki Nakajima - 7

Force India-Mercedes
Adrian Sutil - 7
Vitantonio Liuzzi - 7

Brawn-Mercedes
Jenson Button - 7
Rubens Barrichello - 7

quote:

Op maandag 21 september 2009 18:27 schreef vosss het volgende:
Ik vind de straf ook veel te laag, maar wie weet is er in achterkamertjes gewoon besproken van jongens, jullie komen weg met een voorwaardelijke straf als jullie zelf de stekker eruit trekken en anders moeten jullie heel diep in de buidel gaan tasten.

Ik denk in ieder geval dat het laatste er nog niet over gezegd is en ben benieuwd of Renault aan blijft of niet

quote:

Nelson Piquet Jr says Flavio Briatore drove him to his lowest ebb
^{September 21, 2009}

Nelson Piquet Jr launched a scathing attack on former Renault boss Flavio Briatore and expressed bitter regret for his own role in Formula One’s race-fixing controversy today.

After Renault were handed a suspended two-year ban by the FIA, the sport's governing body, for ordering Piquet to crash in Singapore last year, the Brazilian driver said he hoped another team would give him the chance to "start from zero".

Piquet, who went to the FIA to expose what had happened after he had been dropped by the team in August, said in an emotional statement that his time at Renault under Briatore had been a nightmare.

“Having dreamed of being a Formula One driver and having worked so hard to get there, I found myself at the mercy of Mr Briatore,” he said.

“His true character, which had previously only been known to those he had treated like this in the past, is now known.

“Mr Briatore was my manager as well as the team boss, he had my future in his hands but he cared nothing for it. By the time of the Singapore GP he had isolated me and driven me to the lowest point I had ever reached in my life,” he added.

The FIA banned Briatore, who manages four other F1 drivers apart from Piquet, from the sport for life. Briatore and engineering head Pat Symonds had already left the Renault team.

“I am relieved that the FIA investigation has now been concluded,” Piquet added, apologising to fans and the FIA.

“Those now running the Renault F1 team took the decision, as I did, that it is better that the truth be known and accept the consequences.

“The most positive thing to come from bringing this to the attention of the FIA is that nothing like it will ever happen again.

“I bitterly regret my actions to follow the orders I was given. I wish every day that I had not done it,” he said.

Piquet, whose father and namesake was a triple world champion, said he could not now believe he agreed to the plan presented to him on the morning of the race by Briatore and Symonds.

“Listening now to Mr Briatore’s reaction to my crash and hearing the comments he has made to the press over the last two weeks it is clear to me that I was simply being used by him then to be discarded and left to ridicule,” he said.

Piquet, who was handed immunity from prosecution by the FIA in return for telling the truth, said he would have to start his career from scratch and did not expect to be forgiven or forgotten.

“I can only hope that a team will recognise how badly I was stifled at Renault and give me an opportunity to show what I promised in my career in F3 and GP2,” he said.

“What can be assured is that there will be no driver in Formula One as determined as me to prove myself.”

Briatore dismissed all allegations against him at the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month.

quote:

Prost close to Renault-deal

After earlier reporting that former Formula One World Champion Alain Prost is the possible successor of former Renault F1 Team boss Flavio Briatore, the signs that this news is correct are growing stronger.

Prost declared to the French newspaper 'Sud-Ouest': "It remains to be seen how Renault is staying in F1 and with what strategy.

"It depends completely on the project. At the moment it's difficult to talk about it. The situation is very complicated. Let's wait and see."

Today, the World Motor Sport Council decided to suspend Renault F1’s disqualification until the end of the 2011 season. The World Motor Sport Council will only activate this disqualification if Renault F1 is found guilty of a comparable breach during that time.

quote:

Op maandag 21 september 2009 18:44 schreef Dos37 het volgende:
Flavio

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 19:00 schreef LeXX het volgende:

[..]

En vergeet Symonds niet... Ik dacht dat hij ook immuniteit had gekregen, maar hij is 5 jaar verbannen van FIA-events!?

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 18:59 schreef Googolplexian het volgende:

[..]

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 18:30 schreef Tarado het volgende:

[..]

Ik heb de indruk dat het juist andersom is gegaan "als jullie willen dat we in F1 blijven geen boete", maar goed dit zullen we inderdaad af moeten wachten.

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Op maandag 21 september 2009 21:14 schreef bodylotion het volgende:

[..]

dat denk ik ook, maar we zullen zien.

ze hebben inderdaad mazzel met die straf - of eigenlijk, geen straf. Hoewel Renault wel verantwoordelijk is natuurlijk, denk ik dat dit een eenmansactie is geweest binnen het team (maar dan door 3 personen _)
Zal me niks verbazen als de rest van het team er helemaal geen fuck vanaf wist. En daarom wordt het Renault zelf ook niet zo zwaar aangerekend.

quote:

Op maandag 21 september 2009 21:16 schreef Googolplexian het volgende:

[..]

Dus jij gelooft dat Renault ECHT een intern eigen onderzoek heeft gedaan en zodoende binnen een paar dagen met de pootjes omhoog op de rug is gaan liggen?

Ikzelf denk dat Renault hiervan af wist en op het moment dat het in 't open kwam van Flavio en Symmonds een pispaal gemaakt.

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Op dinsdag 22 september 2009 00:11 schreef bodylotion het volgende:

[..]

ja. alsof flavio het aan de grote klok gaat hangen binnen het team.

quote:

Williams wil volgend jaar met KERS rijden
22 september 2009

Het team van Williams werkt achter de schermen nog altijd aan de ontwikkeling van een Kinetic Energy Recovery System. Zo heeft technisch directeur Sam Michael laten weten. De Britse renstal hoopt volgend jaar voor het eerst met KERS te kunnen rijden.

"KERS is nog altijd opgenomen in de regels voor volgend jaar. We blijven daarom verder werken aan de ontwikkeling van ons systeem. Ons plan is om het systeem volgend jaar te introduceren op de FW32-auto", zei Sam Michael. "We staan volledig achter het idee van KERS. KERS is erg positief voor de sport, aangezien de Formule 1 steeds meer zal draaien om duurzaamheid en milieuvriendelijkheid."

Williams werkt aan een vliegwielsysteem om de energie die vrijkomt bij het remmen op te slaan. Andere KERS-systemen maken hiervoor gebruik van een batterij.

quote:

Op dinsdag 22 september 2009 13:02 schreef bodylotion het volgende:
even iets heel anders:
[..]

quote:

Following the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council held in Paris on 21 September 2009, the FIA has published the complete dossier of evidence, the official decision, and a recording of the proceedings.

quote:

Op dinsdag 22 september 2009 15:09 schreef Libris het volgende:
Even tussendoor, de voorbereidingen voor Singapore GP zijn in volle gang. Deze foto's zijn afgelopen zondag gemaakt.

[ afbeelding ]

[ afbeelding ]

[ afbeelding ]

En nog een paar uit het reuzenrad
[ afbeelding ]
De safety car is gearriveerd

[ afbeelding ]
De start/finish

[ afbeelding ]
Het materiaal is gearriveerd, Ferrari en McLaren

[ afbeelding ]
Overzicht van de eerste bochten

[ afbeelding ]

[ afbeelding ]
Rest van het circuit

quote:

Op dinsdag 22 september 2009 20:31 schreef Tarado het volgende:
@Libris, kan nu de foto's zien; top

Verder nog onderstaand de links naar de press releases van de FIA:
[..]

http://fialive.fiacommuni(...)c_dossier_210909.pdf

http://fialive.fiacommuni(...)ts/wmsc_decision.pdf

quote:

Furthermore, it does not intend to grant or renew any Superlicence granted to any
driver who is associated (through a management contract or otherwise) with Mr
Briatore, or any entity or individual associated with Mr Briatore.

quote:

Op dinsdag 22 september 2009 23:42 schreef vosss het volgende:

[..]

Het is dat ik er nu de centen niet voor heb, anders kwam ik ff partycrashen bij je dit weekend

quote:

_{SEPTEMBER 22, 2009}
A second witness against Briatore and Symonds!

The FIA has issued documents and recordings of the World Motor Sport Council hearing into the Renault-Singapore Affair. This is fascinating as it reveals that there was a second witness to confirm Nelson Piquet's claims, known only as WItness X, described as another member of the Renault F1 team who, although not a conspirator himself, knew of the conspiracy at the time of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. This witness was found by Renault F1. The team stated in its submissions of 17 September 2009 that Witness X had confirmed that Mr Briatore had known of the deliberate crash plan before it had been put into effect.

quote:

Op woensdag 23 september 2009 02:40 schreef Googolplexian het volgende:
Ah ...
[..]

Vandaar...

quote:

James Allen on the race-fix verdict
^{Tuesday, 22 September 2009 10:38}

Renault’s admission of guilt in the Singapore race-fixing scandal resulted in a suspended sentence for the team, but much more severe punishments for the key perpetrators, including Flavio Briatore’s permanent exile from Formula 1.

ITV.com/F1 columnist James Allen gives his reaction to the World Motor Sport Council decision and considers the precedent it sets.


I’m not overly surprised at the verdict as far as Flavio Briatore is concerned.

The moment the scandal came to light with all the reams of evidence and Briatore denied it, you knew that this was where this was heading.

Much has been made of Max Mosley wanting Briatore’s head in the same way he wanted Ron Dennis’s head, and there is some truth to this, but it’s not the full story.

Briatore was one of the main cheerleaders for FOTA, driving them on to criticise the FIA’s governance and launch a breakaway series.

It was no coincidence that the vote to break away was taken in a meeting at Renault’s HQ on the Thursday evening of the British Grand Prix, when Briatore provided the champagne with which they toasted their decision.

By all accounts Briatore wanted to be the commercial guru of the breakaway series and was very much the driving force.

Around the same time the European manufacturers’ association issued a statement saying it was time for a change of governance, heaping the pressure on Mosley, who accepted a deal to stand down in return for getting some of the cost-restriction agreements he was looking for.

So there was ‘history’ between Mosley and Briatore – but this Singapore saga was not started by Mosley.

It was started by Nelson Piquet, who was happy to keep quiet about it as long as he had a drive with Renault, but who decided to spill the beans after he was fired.

Once Piquet came forward, Mosley had no choice but to investigate and, as with Dennis, he found that his adversary had presented him with a gilt-edged opportunity.

I am slightly surprised by the outcome as far as Renault and Piquet are concerned.

Renault have been let off with a two-year suspended ban. This was decided on the basis that the punishment for the offence was disqualification, but because they had taken steps to get their house in order and remove the perpetrators, and because they presented an open and honest case to the Federation, the ban was suspended.

Not only that but they would have to do something comparable for the ban to kick in, which is highly unlikely.

I expected some kind of fine, something which would give manufacturers and parent companies a heads-up that they should take care to whom they hand over responsibility for racing in their name.

As for Piquet, he escapes scot-free, which the public and the F1 community will find very hard to accept.

Clearly he was hell-bent on telling his side of the story anyway, to bring down Briatore, so he may have given his testimony without the need for immunity, perhaps in return for a more lenient sentence.

To have allowed him to walk away with nothing sends out a rather odd signal.

Effectively the precedent set by this judgement (and the McLaren ‘liegate’ one too) is that if a team does something seriously wrong in future, the whistleblower can claim immunity and, as long as the management is removed, the team will escape punishment.

But things change quickly in F1 and in a month’s time we will have a new FIA president who might take a different view.

Both candidates propose a revised disciplinary system, which is less reliant on the World Council. So perhaps this precedent will not live long.

But the FIA must always keep an eye out for the credibility of the sport and of its judgements.

It hasn’t got it wrong here, but it has set itself up for criticism if it behaves very differently next time a team over steps the mark.

Let us hope, however, that we never see a team doing what Renault did at Singapore 2008 again.

quote:

FIA vice-president claims decision reached before WMSC hearing
^23/09/2009

The president of the United Arab Emirates' Automobile Club (ATCUAE), Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has said that that the result of Monday's WMSC hearing had been agreed beforehand.

Furthermore, Ben Sulayem indicates that issues other than the case in hand were taken into consideration when reaching a decision.

"We did our negotiations before and everybody is happy with the result," he told a local newspaper, according to the Guardian. "The verdict is fair and everyone is a winner.

"I had to be loyal to my country as well as motor sport," he continued, referring to the fact that his country is on the verge of hosting its first ever round of the Formula One World Championship, the 2009 season finale in Abu Dhabi. "Protecting the investments Abu Dhabi has made into Formula One is my duty; it is a big show and it needs teams.

"We all want to see Renault (in F1)," he added. "This is the result everyone wanted."

It should be noted that Ben Sulayem, a champion rally driver who famously crashed a Renault F1 car during a 'drag race' with Romain Grosjean (Ford GT40) at the Dubai Autodrome in April this year - though not deliberately - was recently named as Vice President of the FIA for Sport in (presidency hopeful) Jean Todt's candidacy team.

quote:

Nelson Piquet’s career in F1

So what happens next in the career of Nelson Piquet Jr? There has been much noise about the rights and wrongs of what he did in Singapore last year and whether or not he should have been granted immunity by the FIA. I agree that Nelson Piquet should have said no, but he did not. The defence that he was only following orders – often called the Nuremburg Defense, because it was used by Nazi war criminals during the Nuremberg Trials – is not acceptable. The judges at the time ruled that provided a moral choice was possible, a person was not relieved of his or her responsibilities because they were ordered to do something. Today the argument is used to mitigate a penalty, but it does not excuse the person involved.

I am big fan of Derek Warwick but I do not agree with remarks he has made in recent days to my colleagues at www.crash.net saying that Piquet should be banned for life. Nelson must share some of the blame, but he did help to bring the real culprits to justice. The scandal may make life difficult for him.

“I would never, ever, ever employ Nelson Piquet Jr again,” Warwick said. “What I struggle with is that for me, what he’s done – breaking the confidence of a team on an agreement that he had – is outrageous, and I think that’s something he has to now live with for the rest of his life. I don’t think there’s a team out there that will employ him. What’s that saying, ‘what goes away stays away’? I could tell a few stories, I could write a few books – but they’re confidences.”

Warwick’s argument is probably a realistic reflection of the way motor racing is, but this does not make it right. There should be no need for “confidences”. Clearly if Nelson was giving important technical secrets to another team that would be a breach of confidence, but if a team has nothing to hide, it has nothing to fear. The cynics might add that the team would probably not be competitive, but one likes to try to think the best of people until proven otherwise.

In any case, I also do not believe that Piquet’s behaviour will have any effect on teams deciding whether or not to hire him. Let us not forget that in 2007 Fernando Alonso provided the FIA with information that resulted in his team (McLaren) getting into huge trouble. Worse than that, he allegedly tried to use this information to persuade McLaren to make him the team number one. McLaren called his bluff. This was certainly a breach of confidence (as defined by Warwick), and one might use other more emotive words to describe elements of the story, and yet not only is Alonso still employed in F1, but he is also about to be signed by Ferrari.

So why would one rule apply for Piquet and another for Alonso? The reality is very simple. Alonso is super-fast. Piquet thus far has not been. Perhaps if he was given another F1 car he would be able to show his ability. But will he be given another chance? He has had two years with Renault and apart from a fortunate podium in Germany in 2008 had little to show for it. It is doubtful that any team would bother when there are always new boys coming up. Nelson is fortunate in that with the help of his old man he might be able to raise some cash that would make him attractive to a team down at the back of the field. He might use this to rebuild his reputation.

He has made an important mistake and it may ruin his career, but Nelson Jr has money and contacts and you don’t win a British Formula 3 title and five GP2 races against the very best drivers of your generation without having some basic ability.

Perhaps the story is not over yet.

quote:

Jonathan Noble op Twitter
My sources say Raikkonen's future is still totally up in the air - so don't believe stories that he has an outline agreement with McLaren.

quote:

Vergunning circuit Spa-Francorchamps geschorst

BRUSSEL - De vergunning die het gebruik van het circuit van Spa-Francorchamps in België tot 2026 toelaat, is geschorst. Dat heeft de Franstalige krant La Libre Belgique woensdag gemeld. Dat betekent dat er voorlopig geen races kunnen plaatsvinden.


© ANP
De Belgische Raad van State schorste de vergunning naar aanleiding van een klacht van buurtbewoners. Die dienden de klacht over geluidsoverlast twee jaar geleden in.
Bij de in april 2007 verleende exploitatievergunning stond als voorwaarde dat er een studie zou worden uitgevoerd naar de geluidsoverlast. Volgens de Raad van State is de uitgevoerde studie echter ''zwaar ontoereikend en met lacunes''.

Omdat de raad niet kan waarborgen dat gebruik van het circuit geen ''ernstige moeilijk te herstellen schade veroorzaakt'', is de vergunning geschorst.
Het bestuur van het circuit zegt te werken aan een oplossing. Of de Belgische Grand Prix in 2010 in gevaar komt is vooralsnog onduidelijk.

quote:

Op woensdag 23 september 2009 13:43 schreef bloodymary het volgende:
Wie gaat er nou klagen over geluidsoverlast als hij vlakbij een circuit gaat wonen. Ze moeten trots zijn dat ze daar wonen!

quote:

Op woensdag 23 september 2009 13:43 schreef bloodymary het volgende:
Wie gaat er nou klagen over geluidsoverlast als hij vlakbij een circuit gaat wonen. Ze moeten trots zijn dat ze daar wonen!

quote:

Op woensdag 23 september 2009 13:54 schreef Klonk het volgende:
maar een trein heeft een mooi geitenwollensokkenimago, motorsport maakt herrie en is uitgevonden door satan himself, dat is een verschil

quote:

Op woensdag 23 september 2009 13:58 schreef Klonk het volgende:
ach, binnenkort kunnen we niets meer zondag, volgend jaar mogen we niet meer winkelen van de gristenunie, races afschaffen zal het volgende zijn, alles voor de ultieme zondagsrust

quote:

Op woensdag 23 september 2009 13:43 schreef bloodymary het volgende:
Wie gaat er nou klagen over geluidsoverlast als hij vlakbij een circuit gaat wonen. Ze moeten trots zijn dat ze daar wonen!

quote:

Renault has appointed Bob Bell as its new stand-in team principal in the wake of the departure of Flavio Briatore for his involvement in the Singapore Grand Prix race-fix controversy.

Bell, who was the team's technical director, will take charge in the temporary restructure that will remain in place until the end of the season. He will also be the outfit's chief technical officer.

As part of the reshuffle forced about by the events of recent weeks, Jean-François Caubet, currently director of marketing and communications, will become the team's managing director.

A statement issued by Renault said about Bell and Caubet: "They will both report to Bernard Rey, President of the Renault F1 Team.

"Bob Bell will attend all the remaining races of the season and will be the team's spokesperson on all sporting and technical matters.

"The Renault F1 Team is now ready to concentrate on the future and wishes to stress that no further comments or statements will be issued relating to the events of Singapore 2008."

Bell, who started out in the aviation industry before arriving in Formula 1 with McLaren in 1982, first joined Renault when it was still known as Benetton in 1997.

Following a brief period with Jordan, he returned to the now Renault factory squad as technical director in 2002, overseeing the team's world championship triumphs of 2005 and 2006, and working under engineering director Pat Symonds, who like Briatore departed last week due to the Singapore scandal.