Renault to sue Piquets in crash row

Renault have today launched legal proceedings against Nelson Piquet Junior and Nelson Piquet Senior in the latest twist to the 'crash-gate' scandal.

The team have chosen to act in the wake of allegations made by their former driver Piquet Junior, that he deliberately crashed his car in last year's Singapore Grand Prix to the advantage of Fernando Alonso.

Renault are also acting against Piquet Senior over what they claim is an attempt to blackmail team principal Flavio Briatore.

A statement from Renault read: "The FIA has announced it is to hold an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on 21 September 2009.

"The ING Renault F1 Team is to attend that meeting and answer allegations that members of the team conspired with Nelson Piquet Jnr to cause a deliberate accident at the 2008 Singapore GP, so that Fernando Alonso might benefit from the resulting safety car.

"The ING Renault F1 Team had not commented publicly during the FIA's initial investigation into this matter.

"However, today the ING Renault F1 Team and its managing director Flavio Briatore personally wish to state they have commenced criminal proceedings against Nelson Piquet Junior and Nelson Piquet Senior in France concerning the making of false allegations and a related attempt to blackmail the team into allowing Mr Piquet Jnr to drive for the remainder of the 2009 season.

"The matter will also be referred to the police in the UK."

The team have filed their action through the criminal prosecutor in France who, given the severity of the case and the public interest, is to address the matter within the week.

It has also been referred to the UK police because Piquet Jnr resides in England, and the fact a second statement detailing the events of the September 28 race last year was provided in the UK.

Renault had previously remained silent on this matter, but in the wake of the initial statement provided by Piquet Jnr to the FIA in Paris on July 30, Briatore and the French car giant have chosen to act.

The statement was yesterday leaked, to which FIA president Max Mosley was today asked to confirm its authenticity, responding: "I haven't seen anything which I believe to be a forgery."

Piquet has claimed he held a meeting with Briatore and director of engineering Pat Symonds prior to the race at which he was told to crash his car, which he agreed to.

Believing his career with Renault at the time was in the balance, and although no guarantees were given at that stage, Piquet Junior felt it would enhance his prospects of retaining his seat.

Double world champion Alonso had started from 15th on the grid, and started on low fuel on a typical street track where it is notoriously difficult to pass.

Renault gambled on there being a safety car incident, and just two laps after Alonso made his first pit stop on lap 12, Piquet's crash turned the race on its head.

The Brazilian's moment into a wall also took place on a part of the circuit where there was no crane, otherwise the field might slowly have filed past under waved yellow flags whilst it was recovered.

However, with the crane on track, it necessitated the safety car period, resulting in the pitlane being immediately closed.

When it eventually re-opened, virtually the entire field dived into the pits, culminating in Alonso emerging in fifth place.

Of those ahead of him, Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella pitted later, whilst Nico Rosberg and Robert Kubica were penalised as they had been forced to stop when the pitlane was closed.

Alonso then inherited a lead on lap 34 he cemented with victory, Renault's first for two years, and at a time when it was strongly rumoured they were considering quitting the sport.

Piquet Junior was eventually retained for this season, only to be axed after the Hungarian Grand Prix in late July after failing to score a point this year.

Following the race the FIA were then alerted to what unfolded in Singapore.

Piquet was clearly an aggrieved man at the time of his sacking as he slammed Briatore as his "executioner", someone with virtually no understanding of modern day Formula One.

The FIA's investigations since Piquet's statement have prompted them into the extraordinary WMSC meeting where Renault face the prospect of being expelled from the championship should they be found guilty of conspiracy.