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I am Adam Feneley, studying for an MEng in Motorsport Engineering at Brunel University, England.

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21 Sept 2009

Renault given 2 year ban over F1 race fixing scandal!

Renault have been given a two-year suspended ban from Formula 1 for their role in fixing last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

The team were called before governing body the FIA to answer charges they had asked driver Nelson Piquet Jr to crash to help team-mate Fernando Alonso win.

Former team boss Flavio Briatore has been banned from FIA sanctioned events for an unlimited period.

Ex-engineering director Pat Symonds has also been excluded for five years.

Briatore and Symonds parted company with Renault last week at the same time as the French car giant said they would not contest the charges.

The FIA agreed not to pursue action against Piquet in return for his role in uncovering the details of the scandal.

We apologise unreservedly to the F1 community in relation to this unacceptable behaviour 

Renault team statement

Alonso, who attended the hearing in Paris, was also cleared of any involvement in the race-fixing scheme and the FIA thanked him for "cooperating with enquiries".

The World Motor Sport Council ruled that Renault was guilty of breaking its sporting code, finding; "breaches relating to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to be of unparalleled severity.

"They not only compromised the integrity of the sport but also endangered the lives of spectators, officials, other competitors and Nelson Piquet Jr. himself.

"The WMSC considers that offences of this severity merit permanent disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship.

ANDREW BENSON BLOG

"However, 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."

FIA president Max Mosley added: "The blame has been placed where it should be placed and it's the right decision.

"The penalty that we've imposed is the harshest one we can but because Renault have demonstrated that they have no moral responsibility for what took place, it would be wrong in the circumstances to impose an immediate penalty."

The hearing was an attempt to attribute responsibility for the Singapore scandal despite the departure of Briatore and Symonds.

Renault explained that its internal investigation found that Briatore, Symonds and Piquet Jr had conspired to cause the crash with no other team member involved.

After conducting its own investigation, the FIA agreed with Renault's findings and decided to hand the French team a more lenient suspended sentence.

Renault, who will pay the cost of the FIA investigation, as well as contributing to its safety-related projects, said it accepted the council's decision.

Renault's F1 president Bernard Rey

"We are very sad to find ourselves in front of the Word Motor Sport Council," a team statement said.

"We apologise unreservedly to the F1 community in relation to this unacceptable behaviour.

"We sincerely hope that we can soon put this matter behind us and focus constructively on the future. We will issue further information in the next few days."

The FIA imposed further sanctions on Briatore, who ended his nine-year reign as Renault team principal last week in the wake of the scandal.

The Italian has been banned indefinitely from attending any FIA events. A route back into F1 was made more difficult for Briatore as the FIA declared it would not grant a licence to any team he was involved with or renew an F1 Superlicence granted to any driver associated with him.

Renault's double world champion Alonso and Red Bull's Mark Webber are both managed by Briatore while McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen also has ties with the Italian.

Symonds was banned from all FIA events for five years but the FIA noted his communication to the hearing "that it was to his 'eternal regret and shame' that he had participated in the conspiracy".

The fateful conspiracy was brought to light by Piquet after he was sacked by Renault following July's Hungarian GP.

The 24-year-old Brazilian said after the hearing: "I bitterly regret my actions to follow the orders I was given. I wish every day that I had not done it."

During last year's Singapore night race Piquet crashed on lap 14, two laps after Alonso had stopped for fuel and tyres, and a safety car was deployed to control the field while the debris from the accident was removed from the track.

Having already pitted in the race, the timing of the safety car - necessary while Piquet's wrecked car was removed from the track - was critical to Alonso's victory in Singapore.

It meant that when the safety car came out, he was alone among the front-runners in not having to stop for fuel and tyres and it promoted him into a position from which he was able to win.

The FIA's ruling on the race-fixing behind the Spaniard's victory has been reached in the same week that Formula 1 returns to Singapore for this season's race, with first practice at 1100 BST on Friday, 25 September.

Flavio Briatore
Briatore has been banned from any involvement in F1

While the majority of the Renault team flew out to Singapore over the weekend, the long-term future of the French team remains in doubt.

The team's main sponsor, Dutch bank ING, had already decided to withdraw its support at the end of the season while Renault itself reported losses as a result of falling car sales in the first half of the year.

Two major car manufacturers have pulled out of F1 in the last nine months, with Honda quitting last December and BMW announcing in July they would stop at the end of the year.

There have long been rumours that both Renault and Toyota, who have said it will not sign off its 2010 F1 budget until November, could follow them out of the sport.

If Renault and Toyota pulled out, the only two car companies left in F1 would be Mercedes and Fiat through its Ferrari brand.

As the car companies supply engines to the entire grid this year, that could be a major problem, notwithstanding the return of privateer engine company Cosworth next season as supplier to the new teams Lotus, US F1, Campos and Manor.

"Formula 1 can't afford another major manufacturer with such a proud history to walk away," said the BBC's James Munro in Paris.

"So some may accuse the FIA of that having influenced their decision."

»»  read more

Renault Await Hearing Result of F1 Race Fixing Scandal

The hearing into charges that Renault conspired to fix last year's Singapore Grand Prix has finished in Paris at the headquarters of governing body the FIA.

Renault are accused of asking driver Nelson Piquet Jr to crash to help team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race.

Team boss Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds left the team last week after Renault decided not to contest the charges.

The FIA has a number of charges open to them including banning the team.

However, it is thought more likely Renault will be issued with a heavy fine or suspended ban.

F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on his way into the hearing: "What they did was very serious. There can be no excuses but they have acted quickly to get rid of the culprits and that must be borne in mind."

Piquet and Alonso have arrived at the hearing at the FIA's headquarters. Neither they nor Renault representatives Bernard Rey, the company's F1 president, and communications director Jean-Francois Caubet spoke to the media.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believes banning Renault would be inflict major damage on Formula 1.

Piquet's crash in Singapore

"For F1, it would be disastrous to lose a team and, in our case, an engine supplier," Horner told BBC Sport.

The hearing will attempt to attribute responsibility for the Singapore "crash-gate" despite the departure of team boss Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds.

Piquet said in evidence to the FIA that Briatore and Symonds had proposed the idea that he crash deliberately.

"The FIA has all the information to hand. I'm sure they'll act responsibly," Horner added.

"Renault have been a very strong engine supplier to Red Bull for the last three years. Hopefully a sensible solution can be found.

"It would be a great shame to lose Renault from F1 because of an unfortunate incident such as this one."

Two major car manufacturers have pulled out of F1 in the last nine months, with Honda quitting last December and BMW announcing in July they would stop at the end of the year.

There have long been rumours that both Renault and Toyota could follow them out of the sport.

For any driver to deliberately crash a car is a shocking thing to do - it beggars belief, really 

Christian Horner
Red Bull team boss

Toyota has said it will not sign off its 2010 F1 budget until November and while Briatore shrugged off doubts about Renault's future, the Singapore scandal has revived them.

If Renault and Toyota pulled out, the only two car companies left in F1 would be Mercedes and Fiat through its Ferrari brand.

As the car companies supply engines to the entire grid this year, that could be a major problem, notwithstanding the return of privateer engine company Cosworth next season as supplier to the new teams Lotus, US F1, Campos and Manor.

Horner added he shared the widespread sense of shock at the Singapore incident.

"Obviously it is shocking. For any driver to deliberately crash a car is a shocking thing to do. It beggars belief, really."

The FIA agreed not to pursue action against Piquet for his role in uncovering the details of the scandal.

Leaked documents suggest the FIA's investigation into the incident found no evidence that Alonso knew of the alleged plan.

Renault have a case to answer - Mosley

Having already pitted in the race, the timing of the safety car - necessary while Piquet's wrecked car was removed from the track - was critical to Alonso's victory in Singapore.

BBC Sport commentator Martin Brundle, writing in the Sunday Times, urged Renault to "go in with their hands up, admitting guilt".

"They must also demonstrate that they will install a new team principal of perceived integrity," added Brundle.

"I foresee a sizeable fine for the FIA coffers and a points penalty that will pain the team into next year in regard to revenue and pit lane position."

Former world rally champion Ari Vatanen, who is battling to succeed Max Mosley as the next FIA president, told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme Renault should not be thrown out of the sport.

ANDREW BENSON BLOG

Vatanen believes there are too many vested interests in the world council and that punishing Renault by expulsion would be "disproportionate."

He said: "Renault has got more or less their punishment in terms of image and having lost their top brass and we have to see the bigger context here.

"Don't just focus on this incident and look at what we can do about the FIA and about the sport.

"If Renault is thrown out it wouldn't have been a result of an independent justice. That's what we must get right - an absolutely independent justice otherwise people will always have a question. What was behind it?"

The FIA's decision will be reached in the same week that Formula 1 returns to Singapore for this season's race, with first practice due to begin at 1100 BST on Friday, 25 September.


»»  read more

17 Sept 2009

People are over-reacting to Renault F1 race fix scandal - Irvine




Ex-Formula One driver Eddie Irvine says there has been an overreaction to the race-fixing charges being levelled at the Renault team.
Renault have been called to answer charges by governing body, the FIA, of ordering Nelson Piquet Jr to crash.
"Formula One has always been a war and in war all is fair," the former Jordan and Ferrari driver told Radio 5 live.
"When I was in various teams you would do anything to win. Back in the day it was normal."
On Wednesday, Flavio Briatore left his post as boss of the Renault team along with executive director of engineering Pat Symonds after the team decided not to contest charges of fixing the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
Despite the departures, Renault will face a World Motor Sport Council hearing in Paris on Monday.
The team have been called to answer charges that they "conspired with Nelson Piquet Jr to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of its other driver, Fernando Alonso".
But Irvine says that this matter is the latest in a long list of rules that have been bent in the sport over the years.
"This is probably slightly on the wrong side of the cheating thing but in days past every team have done whatever they could to win - cheat, bend the rules, break the rules, sabotage opponents," he claimed. "This is just the FIA going on a crusade."
The Northern Irishman also believes that if Renault are found guilty, the FIA will deal with them leniently.
"Formula One cannot afford to lose more teams. For me, it will be a massaged court where the fine will be reduced in order not to scare Renault away.
"There are several teams in the sport that are looking shaky and they cannot afford to kick Renault out of Formula One."
The 1996 world champion Damon Hill added that the case is not a good episode for the sport.
"There have clearly been some issues in the sport recently and there is a lot of soul-searching to be done," he said.
"It is a huge sport with a huge amount of interest and sometimes controversies add to the interest but you want it to be for the right reasons.
"I'm concerned that the sport is going to suffer as a genuine challenge of skill and competitiveness."

Is eddie right? Do you think people are over-reacting post your views below! Make sure you preview your comments before posting them !!


By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch
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Renault boss blames Briatore over scandal controversy




Renault chief Patrick Pelata has blamed departed team bosses Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds for the Formula 1 race-fixing controversy.
Briatore and Symonds resigned after Renault chose not to contest charges of fixing the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
"Flavio Briatore considered he was morally responsible and resigned," Pelata told French radio station RTL.
"We don't want a fault by two people to reflect upon the whole company and the entire Formula 1 team."
Renault will appear before governing body, the FIA, in Paris on Monday charged with ordering former driver Nelson Piquet Jr to deliberately crash in Singapore last year to help team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race.
"I don't know all the details but there was a fault and a fault requires a sanction," said Pelata, Renault's chief operating officer.
"We will know more about the details after what will happen on Monday with the FIA. For the moment we have assumptions but it is clear that basically there was a fault."
Piquet crashed two laps after Alonso had come in for a routine pit-stop, meaning that when race officials sent out the safety car to clear up the debris from Piquet's car, Alonso was alone among the front-runners in not having to stop for fuel and tyres.
Renault's double world champion went on to take the chequered flag at Formula 1's inaugural night race and clinch the team's first victory in two years.
At the time, Piquet attributed the crash to a simple error, but after being dropped by the team after July's Hungary GP the race-fixing allegations emerged.
The Brazilian has since testified to the FIA that he was instructed by Briatore and Symonds when and where to crash.
Renault's response was to accuse the 24-year-old and his father Nelson Piquet of false allegations and blackmail, going as far as saying they would begin legal action against them.
But on Wednesday the team said in a statement they would "not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix", while team boss Briatore and executive director of engineering Symonds departed their posts.
Monday's hearing will attempt to attribute responsibility for the affair and the FIA could still impose sanctions if Renault are found guilty.
Potential punishments include excluding the team from the championship, although that must be considered unlikely given the two people Piquet said were responsible have now left the team.
Pelata would not be drawn on the French manufacturer's continuing involvement in the sport and the possibility that they could walk away.
"This is not the debate today. We will have it calmly," he added. "Formula 1 is the world's most-watched show and you have to respect that. Formula One has been in the vanguard of progress for car technology.
"It is probably not the case at the moment, but it could be again and it is always what Renault have tried to do."
Meanwhile, ex-Formula 1 driver Eddie Irvine feels there has been an overreaction to the charges being levelled at Renault.
"Formula 1 has always been a war and in war all is fair," the former Jordan and Ferrari driver told BBC Radio 5 live. "When I was in various teams you would do anything to win. Back in the day it was normal.
"This is probably slightly on the wrong side of the cheating thing but in days past every team have done whatever they could to win - cheat, bend the rules, break the rules, sabotage opponents. This is just the FIA going on a crusade."
The Northern Irishman also believes that if Renault are found guilty, the FIA will deal with them leniently.
"Formula One cannot afford to lose more teams. For me, it will be a massaged court where the fine will be reduced in order not to scare Renault away.
"There are several teams in the sport that are looking shaky and they cannot afford to kick Renault out of Formula 1."
The 1996 world champion Damon Hill added that the case is not a good episode for the sport.
"There have clearly been some issues in the sport recently and there is a lot of soul-searching to be done," he said.
"It is a huge sport with a huge amount of interest and sometimes controversies add to the interest but you want it to be for the right reasons.
"I'm concerned that the sport is going to suffer as a genuine challenge of skill and competitiveness."



By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch
»»  read more

BMW F1 to be bought by owners of Notts County FC!




German car manufacturer BMW says it has agreed to sell its Formula 1 team to Swiss-based Qadbak Investments.
BMW has been looking for a buyer for the team since it announced in July that it was pulling out of the sport at the end of the current season.
Qadbak bought Notts County FC in July through its Munto Finance company.
Earlier on Tuesday, F1's governing body gave BMW Sauber "14th place" on the grid next year, meaning they are first reserves to fill any vacancy.
The FIA has announced the expansion of the F1 grid to 13 teams for next season, with Lotus, Campos GP, Manor and US F1 all joining.
However, it will be "consulting urgently" with the 10 existing teams with a view to increasing the number of teams to 14.
There are also doubts over the F1 future of current teams Renault and Toyota.
Renault are embroiled in a race-fixing controversy while Toyota insist they are not signing off their F1 budget until November.
Despite previous doubts over its future, the FIA described BMW's application as "high quality" and a team statement said: "We are pleased to confirm that the FIA has indicated that we may have a place in the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship.
"The team expects to line up on the grid for the first race of the 2010 season."
BMW, which took over Sauber in 2005, announced in July it was pulling out of the sport at the end of the season citing "current developments in motorsport" as the reason for the decision.
Founder Peter Sauber, who holds a 20% stake in the team, tried to buy the team last month but negotiations collapsed after he said BMW's demands were "far too high".
BMW has not revealed financial details of the deal it has agreed with Qadbak, a company which it described as representing the interests of "certain Middle Eastern and European-based families".
"A strong investor has therefore been found for the Hinwil-based team," added the statement. "Qadbak's interest in the team will be represented by Lionel Fischer, a Swiss national."
When the Qadbak-owned Munto Finanace bought League Two side Notts County in the summer, they wiped out debts of £1m when taking over from a supporters' trust and made Championship football their five-year target.
They have made a statement of intent by installing former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson as their director of football while former Spurs, Arsenal and Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell has also moved to Meadow Lane.
BMW Sauber finished third behind Ferrari and McLaren in last year's constructors' championship but have had a disappointing 2009 so far.
They are currently lying in seventh place with the team claiming only one podium finish all season.
Drivers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica are 13th and 15th respectively in the drivers' standings.


Do you think BMW should stay in the sport?
What do you think of the buyout?

Comment your vews below!!

By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch
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16 Sept 2009

Briatore and chief engineer quit Renault during scandal




Flavio Briatore has left his position as boss of the Renault team after they decided not to contest charges of fixing the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
Executive director of engineering Pat Symonds has also left the team.
Renault were summoned by governing body, the FIA, after Nelson Piquet Jr claimed he had been asked to crash to help team-mate Fernando Alonso's race.
An FIA spokesperson confirmed a World Motor Sport Council hearing in Paris on Monday would go ahead.
Renault have been called to answer charges that they "conspired with Nelson Piquet Jr to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of its other driver, Fernando Alonso".
The hearing will attempt to attribute responsibility for the Singapore "crash-gate" despite the news that Briatore and Symonds have left Renault.
The FIA could still impose sanctions if Renault are found guilty, including excluding the team from the championship, although that must be considered unlikely given the two people Piquet said were responsible have now left the team.
Piquet crashed in Singapore two laps after Alonso had come in for a routine pit stop.
That meant that when race officials sent out the safety car to clear up the debris from Piquet's car, Alonso was alone among the front-runners in not having to stop for fuel and tyres.
Renault's double world champion went on to take the chequered flag at Formula 1's inaugural night race and claim his first victory in two years.
At the time, Piquet attributed the crash to a simple error, but after being dropped by the team after July's Hungary GP the race-fixing allegations emerged.
The Brazilian has since testified to the FIA that he was instructed by Briatore and Symonds when and where to crash.
Renault's response was to accuse the 24-year-old and his father Nelson Piquet of false allegations and blackmail, going as far as saying they would begin legal action against them.
But on Wednesday the team said in a statement they would "not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix."
The statement added: "The team also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team."
BBC pundit and former team boss Eddie Jordan said he was surprised by Renault's announcement but believes it was effectively an admission of guilt.
"By suggesting they are not going to contest the allegations is in itself an admission," Jordan told the BBC.
"That's how I see it. Legally, there may be another argument. I think this is a clear-cut admission and I am surprised.
"I don't know what goes on in teams but certainly in the Jordan team you would contemplate all sorts of things but you certainly couldn't contemplate that."
It remains to be seen whether this latest controversy, and the departure of Briatore and Symonds, will affect Renault's decision to stay in Formula 1.
Briatore had denied speculation that the French team's future was under threat and the team have signed a new Concorde Agreement to stay in F1 until 2012.
But this latest controversy, coupled with a decline in cars sales, could yet have repercussions for the staff of around 700, who are are employed at the team's headquarters in Enstone, in Oxfordshire, and Viry-Chatillon in Paris.
As it is, Renault's statement draws the curtain on two of F1's best-known protagonists.
Briatore became Benetton team principal in 1991 and when Renault bought Benetton in 2000 to run under its own moniker, the 59-year-old Italian was chosen to lead the team.
Symonds joined the Toleman team, which morphed into Benetton and Renault, in the 1980s and worked his way though the ranks becoming executive director of engineering in 2001.
Briatore was also heavily involved in the teams' association Fota, as it sought to reach an agreement on the future of the sport with the FIA this season.



By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch
»»  read more

15 Sept 2009

Lotus are to return to Formula One Grid in 2010




Lotus are to return to Formula 1 next season for the first time since 1994.
They have been awarded the final grid spot and join Campos GP, Manor and US F1 as one of four new teams for 2010.
The FIA has given current team BMW Sauber "14th place" for 2010, meaning they are now first reserves to fill any vacancy on the grid should one arise.
However, motorsport's governing body says it will "consult urgently" with the 10 existing teams to expand the grid from 13 to 14 teams for 2010.
"The FIA believes that a good case can be made for expanding the grid to 14 teams," read an FIA statement released on Tuesday.
"It will be consulting urgently with the existing teams regarding the introduction of an appropriate rule change to expand the grid to 28 cars in time for the first Grand Prix in 2010."
While the FIA said it had received an "impressive application" from the BMW Sauber team, it added: "However, given that BMW has announced it will withdraw its support in 2010, there are still uncertainties regarding the future ownership of the team."
The German car manufacturer, which took over Sauber in 2005, revealed it would withdraw from F1 at the end of July citing "current developments in motorsport" as the reason for their decision.
BMW was the second major manufacturer to announce it was leaving the sport after Honda's withdrawal eight months earlier.
The Norfolk-based Litespeed team bought the rights to the name Team Lotus - which competed in F1 from 1958 through to 1994 - and was awarded its place, also pushing out Epsilon Euskadi, following an intensive selection and due diligence process conducted by the FIA.
The team won seven constructors' crowns and six drivers' championships, including wins by Jim Clark and Graham Hill, during their golden era in the 1960s and '70s.
Three-time world champion, the late Ayrton Senna, drove for Lotus for three seasons between 1985 and 1987 - although the team enjoyed limited success during that period.
In its new incarnation the team is a partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs and is being led by team principal Tony Fernandes, the founder of the Malaysian-based Tune Group, which owns Air Asia airline.
Mike Gascoyne - who has 20 years experience in the sport after working with Jordan, Renault, Toyota, and most recently Force India - returns to F1 as the team's technical director.
The team will be initially based in Norfolk, though its future design, research and development, manufacturing and technical centre will be purpose built at Malaysia's Sepang International circuit.
Their withdrawal from F1 in 1994 was down to financial pressures, but Lotus remains the fourth most successful constructor of all time.


By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch
»»  read more

14 Sept 2009

Hamilton explains crash at Italian Grand Prix




McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh refused to criticise Lewis Hamilton after he crashed while third on the final lap of the Italian Grand Prix.
The reigning world champion caught the kerb trying to run down Jenson Button and spun off to ruin his hopes of grabbing a podium place.
But Whitmarsh told BBC Sport: "Lewis is just a racer, he pushes and pushes.
"You don't want to change that in a great, great champion and a great racing driver like Lewis."
Hamilton's crash gifted third spot to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, with the Briton eventually classified in 12th place.
After starting on pole, Hamilton could do little as his two-stop strategy allowed Brawn GP pair Rubens Barrichello and Button - both on a one-stop plan - to pass him.
However, with the race drawing to a close, the 24-year-old was closing in on second-placed Button, with barely a 1.5 second gap between them in the final few laps.
But Hamilton, pushing to get the most out of his car in the hope of overtaking his compatriot, clipped the kerb coming out of the first Curva di Lesmo on the final lap and spun into the wall, ending his race.
"Every lap I was pushing like a qualifying lap - it was to be expected," said Hamilton. "We didn't have the pace and I was pushing as hard as I could. I can only say I'm sorry to the team.
"They did a great job but we just weren't quick enough.
"I did all I could to catch the Brawns and to win it for them (the team). I apologise to all my fans.
"People make mistakes, these things happen. I just lost the back end and snapped out."
Whitmarsh admitted the result was "obviously really disappointing," but insisted he would not blame Hamilton for trying to win second place and a precious two extra points.
"He'd just set a purple (fastest) sector, he was racing to the very end, and that's how he is. He was there fighting for position and his competitive spirit kept him pushing until the end.
"He wants to win and compete, that's what makes him who he is. We're a racing team and he is an experienced racing driver.
"Yes, it's disappointing, but we'll rebuild and he'll rebuild."



By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch
»»  read more

13 Sept 2009

Monza race report: Brawn and Barrichello on top




Rubens Barrichello headed Jenson Button for a Brawn one-two in a tense Italian Grand Prix as the Englishman scored his first podium finish in six races.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who started on pole but was beaten on strategy, lost third place when he crashed on the last lap trying to chase down Button.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen took the place ahead of Force India's Adrian Sutil.
Brawn's title rivals Red Bull had a bad day as Mark Webber crashed on the first lap while Sebastian Vettel was eighth.
Button has had his championship lead cut by two points to 14 from second-placed Barrichello, while Vettel sits 12 points behind the Brazilian with Webber 2.5 points behind his team-mate in fourth.
Forty points are available now with four races remaining.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso pushed hard throughout the race to finish fifth, just ahead of McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen.
After starting back in 15th, Nick Heidfeld did well to score two points for struggling BMW Sauber with a seventh place.
Hamilton was eventually classified in 12th after dramatically crashing out on the exit kerb of the first Lesmo on the last lap having been breathing down Button's neck for the final third of the race as he desperately tried to get in a position to overtake his compatriot.
The 13th grand prix of 2009 was a tale of two races within a race - pole-sitter Hamilton trying to gain enough time to stay ahead of the Brawns knowing he needed to stop twice, while they competed against each other and sought to keep Hamilton at bay.
In-form Barrichello - who claimed his second win in three races - made a brilliant start, jumping into fourth from fifth as Kovalainen slipped down the field despite possessing a Kers power boost button.
The Brazilian built on that move with an aggressive first lap and that early period was also critical for Button.
He swiftly produced a clever manoeuvre on struggling Finnish driver Kovalainen, overtaking on the inside of the second Lesmo to put him into a truly competitive position.
Seven out of last 10 Italian Grands Prix have been won from pole but, while Hamilton opened up a decent gap before his first pit stop, the Brawns stayed well in touch as they ran solidly in fourth and fifth.
Second-placed Raikkonen had jumped Sutil at the start but both drivers were on a two-stop strategy, meaning they were effectively without a chance of winning.
Hamilton's car did not, ultimately, have the pace of the Brawns whose strategy - fuelling heavier in qualifying to use just one stop in the race itself - proved to be a shrewd move.
The lead swapped between Hamilton and Barrichello, but as their differing pit-stop strategies played themselves out, it became quickly apparent that the Brawns had the edge and Hamilton emerged from his final stop in third place.
The world champion was not about to give up, and he closed on Button over the remaining laps of the race.
Heading into the last lap, Hamilton was about a second behind Button and still still striving to close the gap when he pushed just a bit too hard, dropped a rear wheel too far on to the kerb, and spun across the track before smashing into the barriers on the inside.
The veteran Brazilian, meanwhile, was firmly in control in the latter stages with a relatively safe gap between himself and Button - while his decision to stick with an engine which had briefly caught fire at the last race in Belgium was fully vindicated.
"It feels great. I have no words," he said. "At 37 I'm driving better than I ever have.
"I had a tough night, we didn't know if the gearbox would be OK and there are some concerns. But it should last [for the rest of the season].
"It was great to have such a good start. The first lap made my race. There will be times when we don't have to worry about the Kers cars, but with the straight lines here you do."
The championship battle now looks to be a straight fight between two team-mates - a rare thing in a sport where one driver is usually favoured over the other as the season pans out - after a poor race seemed to blow any title hopes for struggling Red Bull.
Webber, who started 10th, went off at the Della Roggia turn after tangling with BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica in what the Australian described as a 'racing incident' - meaning it was not the Pole's fault as he was genuinely challenging for position.
"This gives [my championship chances] a blow, for sure," said Webber. "I haven't scored points in three races, though this is my first DNF [did not finish] of the season.
"We've still had a great middle run in the championship but we need to bounce back from this. We need to finish the season as strongly as we can but it's been a tough period for us."
Button's finish, which clinched Brawn's fourth one-two of the year, was a decent response to critics who have been constantly questioning whether he has been struggling to deal with the pressure of leading the championship after a relatively barren recent run.
"It's nice to be back up here," said the 29-year-old, who won six of the season's first seven races but had only collected 11 points in the five before Monza.
"I'd like to be where Rubens is sat but he did a better job today. I've lost two points to Rubens but gained seven on Vettel.
"We're going to take it I'm sure right down to the wire...for me it was a great result."
German driver Sutil collected his first points of the season by finishing fourth while also handing increasingly-impressive Force India a consecutive second place over the past two races.


By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch
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Patrick Head wants tough punishment if Fixing scandal proven

Williams co-owner Patrick Head says Renault should be punished "pretty firmly" if claims they fixed the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix are proved true.

The French team are accused of asking driver Nelson Piquet Jr to crash in the race to deploy the safety car which aided team-mate Fernando Alonso's win.

"It is extraordinary," said Head. "If that did happen the people responsible should be dealt with pretty firmly."

Renault deny the allegations and have launched legal action against Piquet.

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has summoned Renault to an extraordinary meeting of its world motor sport council in Paris on Monday 21 September to answer the charges.

FIA president Max Mosley confirmed to BBC Sport on Sunday that Renault could be thrown out of the F1 championship if they are found guilty.

But Mosley also stressed the team must be considered innocent until they are proven to be guilty.

Renault have a case to answer - Mosley

"There were all sorts of rumours at the time, but to me it's a pretty extraordinary situation," said Head.

"Young drivers, before they have established their name in F1, are in quite a difficult position," added Head, referring to Piquet's claims that he crashed to protect his position within the team.

"But if young Nelson was asked to deliberately crash or spin his car, regardless of his contractual position, in my view he should have said no at the time.

"Young people, when they are under pressure, do make mistakes, but I would put 99% of the blame on the people that asked him to do that, if that's what happened.

"Ultimately, if that is what happened and that is what he did, then in my view he made a mistake to agree to do it.

"But young people under pressure do make mistakes and I don't necessarily think they need to be crucified as a result."

Piquet drove for Renault throughout 2008 but was sacked by the team after 10 races of this season.

The 24-year-old has been outspoken in his criticism of Renault team boss Flavio Briatore since he was dismissed after July's Hungarian GP.

On Friday Piquet Jr said in a statement, he said: "Because I am telling the truth I have nothing to fear."

Renault announced they were launching legal action against Piquet Jr and his father Nelson Piquet over the race-fixing allegations made against the team.

The French team deny claims they asked Piquet to crash to facilitate Alonso's win and have accused the Brazilian pair of making a blackmail attempt in relation to "allowing Mr Piquet Jr to drive for the remainder of the 2009 season".

Renault accuse Piquets of blackmail (UK only)

Piquet has been promised immunity from being punished in return for giving evidence, as was the case when Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso gave evidence in the McLaren 'spygate' scandal in 2007.

McLaren were excluded from that year's constructors' championship and fined $100m (then equivalent to £49.2m) after being found guilty of illegally possessing confidential Ferrari technical data.

If Renault are found guilty in Paris they would have the right to appeal, but if that appeal failed they could face severe sanctions.

"It has in the past been that one car has deliberately held up another car in order to give favour to the team-mate and that isn't very sporting. But it's hardly something on which one would impose a $100 million fine, said Head.

"I've got no knowledge of what information is available and how well the various parties will stand up under questioning. The thing that's emotive about it is actually a car crashing.

"First of all, if the thing comes down to the word of one man against another, it might be quite difficult to provide sufficient proof to impose those sorts of penalties," he said.

"When you start going as far as requesting that one car does something that brings out the safety car, it goes to another level."


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