The Renault Formula One crash controversy, dubbed as "Crashgate" by some in the media,[1][2] was a sporting scandal caused when Renault F1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to give a sporting advantage to his Renault teammate, Fernando Alonso.[3]
On 28 September 2008, on the 15th lap of the Singapore race, which was close to the expected pit window for everyone's first stop, the Renault R28 driven by Piquet Jr. crashed into the circuit wall at turn 17, necessitating a safety car deployment. Alonso had previously made an early pitstop, and was promoted to the race lead as other cars were running out of fuel and were forced to pit under safety car conditions, resulting in a penalty, or shortly after the safety car period, which pushed them several positions behind the now compact pack. Alonso subsequently won the race after starting 15th on the grid. At the time, Piquet Jr. described his crash as a "simple mistake", excusing himself with how hard the car was to drive with heavy fuel.
After being dropped by the Renault team following the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, Piquet Jr. alleged that he had been asked by the team to deliberately crash to improve the race situation for Alonso, sparking an investigation of Renault F1 for race fixing by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), Formula One's governing body. After an investigation, Renault F1 were charged with conspiracy on 4 September, and were to answer the charge on 21 September 2009.
On 16 September, Renault stated that they would not contest the charges, and announced that the team's managing director, Flavio Briatore, and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, had left the team.
On 21 September, it was announced that the Renault F1 team had been handed a disqualification from Formula One. The disqualification was suspended for two years pending any further comparable rule infringements. Briatore was banned from all Formula One events and FIA-sanctioned events indefinitely, whilst Symonds received a five-year ban.[4][5] Their bans were subsequently overturned by a French court, although they both agreed not to work in Formula One or FIA-sanctioned events for a specified time as part of a later settlement reached with the governing body. Briatore would ultimately return to F1 in 2022 as an ambassador, and to Team Enstone in 2024 as an advisor,[6] while Symonds would return to the sport in 2011 as a technical consultant for Virgin Racing.[7][8][9][10]
- ^ Smith, Ben (21 September 2009). "Renault given two-year suspended ban in Crashgate hearing". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ Blitz, Roger (21 September 2009). "Renault handed two-year suspended sentence for 'Crashgate'". Financial Times. London. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2013.(subscription required)
- ^ "FIA interview with Renault F1 director of engineering, Pat Symonds". The Telegraph. 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ "Renault handed suspended F1 ban". BBC Sport. 21 September 2009. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "FIA Press Release". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009.
- ^ "Flavio Briatore Returns to F1 with Alpine | thejudge13". thejudge13.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ Noble, Jonathan (5 January 2010). "Court overturns Briatore's F1 ban". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Archived from the original on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ^ Elizalde, Pablo (12 April 2010). "FIA, Briatore reach settlement". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
- ^ "Pat Symonds given role with Virgin Racing despite role in Crashgate". www.telegraph.co.uk. 12 February 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Markante Flavio Briatore als adviseur terug in Formule 1". Telegraaf (in Dutch). 8 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.