Rumors have it, that Renault is now actively looking for a new team manager in case Briatore's head will be chopped off by the FIA this month. The good news is, that Renault doesn't plan on leaving F1. The fate of Symmonds is unclear. My feeling is, that he'll get axed too. The candidates for Briatore's position: Richards, Pollock and Prost
Word is that Prost already has had meetings and Richards isn't too far off the list. I have not heard about Pollock though, thought he was a bit of a wanker from his BAR days let alone when he came to CART.
Hmmm...I was under the impression that the pressure is now also coming from Renault. Apparently Flavio's allegations that Piquet is homosexual have been deemed damaging to Renault's business and image. I guess they figured out that gays buy their cars too. Poor bastard, unemployed with a pregnant wife. (If indeed Flav gets axed.)
clearly the FIA is after Briatore .. http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/motorsport/2009/09/15/1252780302545.html "Formula one's governing body has offered Renault's second-in-command immunity from punishment in exchange for full disclosure about "crashgate", a report said today. Pat Symonds, director of engineering at Renault, has been told that if he comes clean over how and why Nelson Piquet jnr drove his car into the barriers in Singapore in 2008, he will escape sanctions."
Max's personal vendetta, or an attack on a FOTA leader? Either way, it's an indication that the Max era FIA is determined to undermine the influence of actual manufacturers, in favor of the smaller garagistas. Salem 1692 comes to mind. It seems that, when times aren't their best, the public is ready to convict everybody of anything, under a presumption of guilt standard.
Hey we resent the comparison! Haven't burned a witch around here for quite some time. Max and Jr. need to be sat down in a corner for a "time out".
It's seems to me that the goal of the whole scandal is in fact political. Flav having being outspoken in the FOTA is now feeling the wrath of Max. Why I think this is because Pat Symonds has been offered immunity by the FIA so that the truth about Piquets crash in Singapore can come out. If this turns out to be true it makes it very clear that the target of the investigation is team boss Flavio Briatore.
LOL muppet ha ha I was hoping Max had been stopped in his tracks with his vengence streak as he knew his number is up, so yes I'am a muppet to think that.
Max was quoted saying that Race fixing is worse than cheating. Are we to see a fine that exceeds 100M.If so Renault my bolt
Doesn't work like that with Mosley a 100mil was a completely ridiculous amount. Max knew Mclaren could afford it.
Well Flav AFAIK has criminal proceedings against Nelson Piquet Junior and Nelson Piquet Senior in France. And Quest, a London-based corporate intelligence, investigations and risk mitigation company, which is headed by Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, a former Commissioner of Police of the Metropolitan Police, is involved. But yes I would think so, so I don't know how it will be sorted and kept within the walls of whips and chains of the FIA..
Yes deadly seriously but the problem for investigators is to find incontrovertible evidence that the race was fixed. And this can come from admissions or data, which IMO the FIA already know the results. I would imagine the FIA and most concerned with F1 want to clear this up with as little fuss as possible, the state of or amount of sleaze in sport is out of control, hence the FIA are very concerned about the leaks, they can't sweep it under the carpet as easy, Flav is probably going to cop for it and then a salvage operation may ensue. I'm just guessing though.