Crashgate 2008/9

Why wasn't I surprised when the smoke from the Nelson Piquet camp indicated that he and his Renault team had conspired for a safety car period to help Alonso win at Singapore 08? Because in the past 11years of watching F1, I have seen sufficient cheating, controversies and attempts at winning races and the championship at all costs. I agree with Eddie Irvine that teams do anything and everything, legally and borderline illegally, possible to win.

Look at Michael Schumacher at Monaco in 2006 where he stopped his car at the second-last corner to prevent Alonso from completing his final qualifying lap. Questionable accidents involving David Coulthard, Jacques Villeneuve and Schumacher are plenty in the 90s F1 races. Drivers spinning to let team-mates win, Barrichello slowing down in Austria are surely race-fixing incidents.

In those days such 'offences' were deemed allowable, almost acceptable as F1 was branded a team sport. It is a team sport, there is no doubt. If a driver is not in a position to win the championship then helping his team-mate is just common sense.

These days, however, things are tougher. Global recession, dwindling viewer numbers, lack of sponsors and competition from other series such as GP2 and A1 are forcing F1 to vigorously protect its image. Max and Bernie are much stricter than in the 90s. The liergate scandal that claimed Ron Dennis was a clue that a few heads would roll at Renualt.

And so it was that both Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds, Team Principal and Technical Director respectively both fell. It wasn't a surprise. Somebody had to take the blame. Renault had a lot at stake and couldn't risk brand damage or loss of political capital to protect these two individuals, who let's face it, are not big value adders or revenue generators. It may be justly deserved as various press releases from the FIA indicate that they master-minded this cheating.

Nelson Piquet does not come out of this undamaged. He claims to have made a wrong decision while under pressure. But aren't F1 drivers supposed to make great decisions while under a lot of pressure: making tyre choice, fuel, overtaking decisions while driving at 200MPH? Is this inability to respond to pressure responsible for his poor performances. Had he been performing impeccably and qualified up the order then Briatore or Symonds would not have compromised his race so blatantly. So I am afraid he can't claim to be the innocent victim.

F1 moves on to Singapore now. All the drivers seem eager to put the negative press behind them and put on a good show. I enjoyed watching the race last year. It's a beautiful city and the organizers need to be commended for their efforts. Can't wait for Sat noon.