Singapore 2008 query

[vonuber]

Given that the result of this race was due to it being illegally fixed, why does it still count as a valid race? Should it not have been re-run or the results voided all together?
Does anyone know what happens in other sports when a match or event is proven to be fixed?
Finally, how did the drivers get away with it and only Briatore/Symonds face action?

Reading this does not really clear too much up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Formula_One_c...

The whole thing smells bad in my opinion.

[DanB7290]

Suppose the FIA just thought "what's done is done" and moved on after punishments were dished out. I think with regards to those punishments, Piquet got away with it by going supergrass; giving them information in exchange for immunity. And somehow, Fernando "knew nothing"

[vonuber]

PW said:

The FIA ruled that Alonso wasn't involved in the conspiracy, so to penalise him as if he was would be unfair I suppose.

Which was an odd decision in itself. Surely he would've questioned why he was being pitted so early.

PW said:

Remember that in 2007 Alonso & Hamilton's race results were retained whilst McLaren were disqualified from the constructors results.

Agreed, but that was not for fixing a race but a bit of healthy corporate espionage.

PW said:

I think that once the race stewards have investigated all driver incidents and all the cars have passed scrutineering they don't change the race results. If anything comes up later they can still sanction people, but they don't touch the results.

But this is the rub isn't it - it was a deliberate act of race fixing (which also had a knock on effects for both Championships). I guess the fact that it came to light long after the event may be the reason, but why not just strike the race off?

[vonuber]

Yeah I understand that - it's just that this wasn't a case of bending the rules or clever design. This was the sort of deliberate result fixing you normally see in cricket.
It's just odd that the way it is swiftly forgotten, yet other lesser acts are constantly brought up.

[Olivera]

I also find it intriguing to contrast Renault Crash-Gate with the 2007 McLaren spying scandal. The former received a paltry 2 year suspended ban, and no rescinding of results. The latter, despite no upper management knowledge of spying, were kicked out of the constructors championship and received a sporting world record $100m fine.

[Nick1point9]

It's F1, people cheat a lot.

Why is deliberate race fixing any different to deliberate breaking of aero rules? Cheating is cheating, I don't see why crashing on purpose in an attempt to give your other driver an advantage is different to using illegal wings/floors/exhausts to your drivers and advantage. I appreciate the safety implications of the crash but just in terms of cheating I don't see a difference.



Also, it wasn't deliberate race fixing; Alonso still had to drive most of the race without being overtaken, without having a bad pit stop, without crashing, without a mechanical failure etc etc.