223 replies to this topic

[potmotr]

I think there is another tragic side effect of the Singapore crash-for-contract scandal.

The Piquet family name is one of the most evocative in racing, up there with Hill, Villeneuve, and Andretti

Nelson Piquet Snr was a great racing driver in the 1980s, with three championships for Brabham and Williams.

When everyone thought his career was over he took that pair of wins at Suzuka and Adelaide in 1990, then Montreal in 1991.

After retiring Piquet went on to make a massive fortune with a GPS system for freight trucks in South America.

His son Nelsinho looked to have it all.

Good looks, great upbringing and serious form in the junior categories.

I think, in the correct environment, Nelinsho could do well in Formula One.

But thanks to the Piquet's alledged desire for revenge, the family name looks like becoming one of the most infamous in Formula One.

Surely no team will ever deal with the Piquets again, unless Nelson Snr buys his own operation.

I reckon this is a great tragedy.

Aside from the arguments over the case, how do you think this scandal will effect one of the greatest names in racing?

Edited by potmotr, 11 September 2009 - 10:09.

[dabrasco]

yea I doubt Piquet jnr will be able to race in F1 again....not impossible, but unlikely especially if Renault are found not guilty

[Gareth]

Jr wasn't racing again in F1 anyway after his disasterous year and a half.

[ForeverF1]

I think it will be decided on the outcome of the hearing.

They will be dubbed either heroes or villains.

Too soon to pre-judge.

Edited by ForeverF1, 11 September 2009 - 10:16.

[Motormedia]

It is quite possible that the Piquets may come out of this in a lot better shape than many imagine possible. I think Piquet Jr's statement seems honest in more than one sense. Wether it is true is a different question. If things go against Renault, there is room for Piquet Jr to redeem himself and be percieved as someone coming out of this a better person.

[sreevishnu]

but unlikely especially if Renault are found not guilty

what has that got to do with his f1 future?'
it was his team who asked him to crash

[potmotr]

I do think it sucks for the family though.

Ask most casual F1 fans over 30 to name a few F1 drivers and they'll usually say Piquet in there somewhere.

Would be a shame if such a strong legacy is ruined.

[MegaManson]

Piquet Snr is seriously rich, he could buy the majority of teams on the grid out of petty cash, I can easily see Nelson Jr back in F1 via his dad buying a team

[ForeverF1]

I do think it sucks for the family though.

Ask most casual F1 fans over 30 to name a few F1 drivers and they'll usually say Piquet in there somewhere.

Would be a shame if such a strong legacy is ruined.

Agreed.

[LOTI]

Is there not a chance that he will lose his superlicense? He has, after all, admitted to crashing on purpose which, as it turned out didn't hurt anyone but he was not to know that when he did it.

[undersquare]

I never thought that much of the Piquets anyway TBH. Sr demeaned himself with his off-track antics and was quite lucky to have 3 wdcs. If you have to call your rival's wife ugly to try and get an edge then that's a bit pathetic if you ask me. Jr never looked like an F1 driver, just doesn't have the confidence. I won't miss them.

[schuey100]

yea I doubt Piquet jnr will be able to race in F1 again....not impossible, but unlikely especially if Renault are found not guilty

Oh I don't know about that, after all Alonso is still in F1 and looks like continuing for some time.

[P123]

I only feel bad for Piquet Jr . Piquet Snr has always been a cock.

[FI-Addict]

Renault taking legal action against Piquet Jr and Sr for 'false allegations' of race fixing. If the Piquet's are found guilty then I doubt we'll see them in F1 again.

[Clatter]

It is quite possible that the Piquets may come out of this in a lot better shape than many imagine possible. I think Piquet Jr's statement seems honest in more than one sense. Wether it is true is a different question. If things go against Renault, there is room for Piquet Jr to redeem himself and be percieved as someone coming out of this a better person.

Can't say I agree. It's lose lose as far as I can see.

If Renault etc. are deemed innocent then Piquets will be seen as liars.
If Renault etc are found guilty NP jr will still be seen as someone who cheats and is willing to do stupid/dangerous things on the track.

Either way who would want anything to do with a driver like that?

[potmotr]

I reckon it will take Nelsinho years to get over the trauma of his time at Renault then being dragged through the mud.

A future in Brazilian stockcars?

[ensign14]

The Piquet family name is one of the most evocative in racing, up there with Hill, Villeneuve, and Andretti

Not really. It's more up there with Waltrip; one loudmouth with plenty of talent, one younger who only got a drive thanks to his surname and then got lucky with a freak drive.

[Gareth]

All got even more serious for the Piquets: http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/78478

[ForeverF1]

This should be interesting......

Just had a lengthy chat to Max Mosley about the Renault Singapore case. Story coming soon

[werks prototype]

I'd say beginning of a racing dynasty if this keeps up.

[jcbc3]

Renault and Flav can't commence 'criminal' proceedings. They can make a civil law suit.

[ForeverF1]

Renault and Flav can't commence 'criminal' proceedings. They can make a civil law suit.

Are they not citing "blackmail", that is a criminal offense...

[MegaManson]

Piquet's will win the battle but lose the war

This action today means Flav knows he has been found guilty so the facts will now be debated in a legal court where the Piquet's will have a much harder time convincing a judge

[Motormedia]

Can't say I agree. It's lose lose as far as I can see.

If Renault etc. are deemed innocent then Piquets will be seen as liars.
If Renault etc are found guilty NP jr will still be seen as someone who cheats and is willing to do stupid/dangerous things on the track.

Either way who would want anything to do with a driver like that?

Piquet jr just have to admit he did something stupid out of pressure, inexperience etc. As is clear by his statement to FIA he was under severe pressure from Briatore. I think most people can buy that he was put in a difficult spot and did the wrong thing. I admit that he has a mountain to climb, but it's not impossible.

[Gareth]

Renault and Flav can't commence 'criminal' proceedings. They can make a civil law suit.

they've notofied police in the UK (as you are right for that jurisidiction).

In France they say they have commenced criminal proceedings - private individuals can do that there for things such as defamation.

[pikamoku]

All got even more serious for the Piquets: http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/78478

NP Jr: "are you sure dad? should we .... ?"
NP Sr: "I'll kick Flavio's ass, for sure"

and the result will come in the next few months


RenaultF1 team is in serious danger, but (part of) Piquet's money so may be

Edited by pikamoku, 11 September 2009 - 10:55.

[jcbc3]

Are they not citing "blackmail", that is a criminal offense...

It is. But they have to refer the issue to the authorities that then make an investigation of their own. If this investigation result in the authorities believing there is a case to answer, then the authorities instigate criminal proceedings. It may be a fight of words, it's just that I would expect an official press release from renault to be precise in these matters.

[potmotr]

Not really. It's more up there with Waltrip; one loudmouth with plenty of talent, one younger who only got a drive thanks to his surname and then got lucky with a freak drive.

[jcbc3]

they've notofied police in the UK (as you are right for that jurisidiction).

In France they say they have commenced criminal proceedings - private individuals can do that there for things such as defamation.

Ensign, where are you. Please enlighten me/us

[santori]

I wonder about the effect on the career of Pedro Piquet. He's supposed to be very talented.

[potmotr]

I wonder about the effect on the career of Pedro Piquet. He's supposed to be very talented.

Who he?

[ForeverF1]

It is. But they have to refer the issue to the authorities that then make an investigation of their own. If this investigation result in the authorities believing there is a case to answer, then the authorities instigate criminal proceedings. It may be a fight of words, it's just that I would expect an official press release from renault to be precise in these matters.

Agreed, it is for the CPS in the UK to decide whether to instigate criminal proceedings.

[Clatter]

Piquet jr just have to admit he did something stupid out of pressure, inexperience etc. As is clear by his statement to FIA he was under severe pressure from Briatore. I think most people can buy that he was put in a difficult spot and did the wrong thing. I admit that he has a mountain to climb, but it's not impossible.

I suppose it depends what he wants for the future. His poor performances aside, I can't see any F1 team hiring him after this affair, no matter which way the judgements go. He could struggle to get into any series unless his father buys the team/slot.

[santori]

Who he?

A younger brother, racing in Brazil.

[potmotr]

A younger brother, racing in Brazil.

Oh, what's he won so far?

[ensign14]

Ensign, where are you. Please enlighten me/us

It's as Gareth says. God knows though how the jurisdiction will work on this, the French will want some connexion, so it might be proceedings for defamation on the basis that PK's allegations to the FIA will be deemed published in France.

[The Ragged Edge]

I used to work for a political think-tank and when it comes to people in politics or industry, the mindset to save their own necks when faced with damaging allegations or evidence is mindboggling. I was staggered that Renault with the Prima facie case the FIA appear to have, have gone on the offensive. If Renault was to even admit one facet of this allegation is true, would result in heads rolling. IMO Renault are mad, because if their is a smoking gun IE; recorded evidence. Renault and especially Flabio are finished.

[krapmeister]

WRT the Piquets and cheating - wasn't there some big scandal involving Piquet Jnr/Piquet Sports F3 team in the Sudamericana years ago?

[santori]

Oh, what's he won so far?

Various karting races, I think (pretty much everything about him is in Portuguese).

EDIT: He seems to be leading the Brazilian Cadet Karting championship (PiquetSports).

Edited by santori, 11 September 2009 - 11:19.

[Clatter]

I used to work for a political think-tank and when it comes to people in politics or industry, the mindset to save their own necks when faced with damaging allegations or evidence is mindboggling. I was staggered that Renault with the Prima facie case the FIA appear to have, have gone on the offensive. If Renault was to even admit one facet of this allegation is true, would result in heads rolling. IMO Renault are mad, because if their is a smoking gun IE; recorded evidence. Renault and especially Flabio are finished.

I think they needed to do something. The allegations are serious, and if they continue to do/say nothing it gives the impression that they have something to hide.

[potmotr]

WRT the Piquets and cheating - wasn't there some big scandal involving Piquet Jnr/Piquet Sports F3 team in the Sudamericana years ago?

Yeah, they broke testing rules IIRC.

They took an F3 car and put flimsy covers over the wheels, thereby arguing that it was no longer an open wheeler...

[zak]

This could end up being the end of Renault in F1. If the team is severely punished for doing this alleged race fixing they'd end up disqualified or fined a huge amount. Renault might pack it in.

[undersquare]

I used to work for a political think-tank and when it comes to people in politics or industry, the mindset to save their own necks when faced with damaging allegations or evidence is mindboggling. I was staggered that Renault with the Prima facie case the FIA appear to have, have gone on the offensive. If Renault was to even admit one facet of this allegation is true, would result in heads rolling. IMO Renault are mad, because if their is a smoking gun IE; recorded evidence. Renault and especially Flabio are finished.

Yes. I suppose if they hadn't challenged what the Piquets were saying, then at the WMSC they'd have looked even more guilty. They can always drop the cases after that, presumably.

[krapmeister]

Yeah, they broke testing rules IIRC.

They took an F3 car and put flimsy covers over the wheels, thereby arguing that it was no longer an open wheeler...

That's right - it was late in the season as they were involved in the title fight IIRC.

So the Piquets have a history as well...

[Mandzipop]

Ok UK case is for blackmail, sentence up to 14 years behind bars. Oops.

[krapmeister]

This could end up being the end of Renault in F1. If the team is severely punished for doing this alleged race fixing they'd end up disqualified or fined a huge amount. Renault might pack it in.

Yep.

[uffen]

The Piquets do not constitute a dynasty.
I agree with most of what else has been said here, though.

[Gareth]

Ok UK case is for blackmail, sentence up to 14 years behind bars. Oops.

2nd up from bottom is probably the most similar - 1 year - http://www.cps.gov.u...ail_commercial/

Funny thing for the Piquets is, even if their version of events is 100% true, if they threatened to reveal it unless Jr was given a new race contract then it could still be blackmail.

[JPW]

2nd up from bottom is probably the most similar - 1 year - http://www.cps.gov.u...ail_commercial/

Funny thing for the Piquets is, even if their version of events is 100% true, if they threatened to reveal it unless Jr was given a new race contract then it could still be blackmail.

Thanks Gareth that's helpful

[potmotr]

The Piquets do not constitute a dynasty.

Why not?

Not enough family members racing?