Renault F1 team principal threatens to sue Piquet for blackmail from race-fixing claims

Briatore threatens to sue Piquet over crash claims

MONZA, Italy — Renault’s team principal has reportedly threatened legal action over Formula One race-fixing claims that he considers “outrageous lies” and akin to “blackmail.”

Renault chief Flavio Briatore is alleged to have asked the son of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet to crash at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix to improve teammate Fernando Alonso’s chances of victory.

Governing body FIA is investigating the claims and Renault will go before the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Sept. 21, when it could be thrown out of the sport if found guilty.

“You can easily imagine that I can certainly not accept your contention that the Renault team, myself, and your son entered into some sort of conspiracy that would not only have an impact on the result of the competition, but actually, that may put at risk the safety of all the contenders in the Grand Prix just to have Fernando Alonso obtaining a racing advantage,” Briatore said in the letter that was submitted to FIA as evidence, according to Autosport.com.

“I am outraged that you could think that I myself, not mentioning your son and the other people in the Renault’s team, could have any part in such a strategy that may constitute a criminal offense.”

“Secondly, I am forced to consider that your threat constitutes without doubt a blatant attempt of exerting blackmail against Renault F1 and myself to extort an illegitimate advantage by way of threats and outrageous lies on the basis of an alleged hearsay.”

Nelson Piquet Jr.’s contract for 2009 had still not been renewed by the time of the Singapore GP. Briatore fired the Brazilian driver last month after 1½ seasons with the French team.

Briatore said he would go to the courts if the matter was made public. Piquet is believed to have informed FIA on the allegations.

“I shall have no choice but to introduce against you, and against Nelsinho as the case may be, any action that way be appropriate before any criminal and civil court having jurisdiction on the ground of defamation, false accusation extortion,” Briatore said.

Piquet Jr.’s crash at F1’s inaugural night race brought out the safety car shortly after Alonso had pitted. The two-time world champion was then able to position himself for victory.

Alonso denies having any knowledge of the alleged plans.