The Renault Formula One team has received a two-year suspended ban from F1 for their role in Nelson Piquet Jr's deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore GP.
But although Renault has emerged from one of the biggest scandals in motorsport history with little more than a slap on the wrist, not everybody involved in 'Crashgate' has got off so lightly.
Piquet Jr has escaped penalty thanks to his role as whistle-blower on the whole affair, but former engineering director Pat Symonds has been banned from FIA events for five years, while former team boss Flavio Briatore has been excluded indefinitely.
Both Briatore and Symonds resigned from Renault last week.
The World Motorsport Council (WMSC) was close to doling out a much heavier penalty, however, with only Renault cooperation and the fact that Briatore, Symonds and Piquet Jr were the only people aware of the conspiracy.
"They not only compromised the integrity of the sport but also endangered the lives of spectators, officials, other competitors and Nelson Piquet Jr. himself," said the WMSC.
"The WMSC considers that offences of this severity merit permanent disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship.
"However, in particular the steps taken by Renault F1 to identify and address the failings within its team and condemn the actions of the individuals involved, the WMSC has decided to suspend Renault F1's disqualification until the end of the 2011 season."
The PH forums have also been a-buzz with the Crashgate verdict for a while, and you can add your thoughts on the debacle by joining in on the thread below:
