NELSON PIQUET Jr claimed that in a meeting with Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds a few hours before the Singapore Grand Prix last September, he was told to crash his car, and in a further discussion with the latter, at what point on the circuit to do it.
In a statement to FIA investigators on July 30th, subsequently leaked to the media, he said he met Symonds and Briatore before the September 28th race in the latters office.
Mr Symonds, in the presence of Mr Briatore, asked me if I would be willing to sacrifice my race for the team by ‘causing a safety car’,” said Piquet, who was promised immunity from prosecution by the FIA if he told the truth.
The Brazilian added he had been “in a very fragile and emotional state of mind” at the time because of uncertainty about the renewal of his contract for 2009 and hoped his agreement would improve his position.
“Mr Symonds took me aside to a quiet corner and, using a map, pointed me to the exact corner of the track where I should crash,” said Piquet in the statement.
Alonso, who has denied all knowledge of any plot, pitted for fuel on lap 12 and Piquet then crashed at a place where his car could not be easily moved, (turn 17 where there was no crane on hand), bringing out the safety car.
Although suspicions were roused at the time, the matter did not start to surface until just over a fortnight ago at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Telemetry data was especially significant as it showed Piquet Jr accelerating into the crash, rather than braking as a driver would ordinarily do.
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