P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Flavio Briatore denies F1 ‘Crashgate’ involvement: ‘I never spoke to Nelson Piquet’
Flavio Briatore has denied instructing Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash intentionally to benefit Renault at the 2008 F1 Singapore Grand Prix. The scandal, known as ‘Crashgate’, emerged after Piquet was dismissed in 2009. Piquet alleged that Briatore, then Renault’s team principal, proposed the deliberate crash to manipulate the race outcome. Following the crash on Lap 15, teammate Fernando Alonso secured victory from a low starting position, granting Renault their first win that season. Briatore and Renault’s technical director, Pat Symonds, faced consequences after investigations, with bans imposed on both individuals. Despite initial bans being overturned, ‘Crashgate’ had repercussions on the sport, affecting Felipe Massa’s championship chances in 2008 due to the unforeseen Safety Car deployment following Piquet’s crash.
