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Piquet: "Alonso Knew Everything about Renault's Plan!"

Fernando Alonso knew everything about the crash-gate and his denying is simply a lie, argues triple Formula One champion Nelson Piquet. Backing his son in the scandal that made the headlines around the world, Piquet Sr. argued that there's no way the Spaniard didn't know about the whole affair if one were to consider his race strategy.

Although constantly faster than most of the drivers in the field through the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix practice sessions, Alonso's R28 let him down during the Saturday qualifying, when an engine problem got him to start 15th on race day. As a result, he went for a low-fuel strategy on Sunday, which caught him on the track and refueled by the time Piquet had crashed.

From that point on, Alonso was to simply drive with the same number of pit stops remaining as the other drivers, only from the leading spot.

Fernando knew everything. He couldn't ignore it. If you are 15th on the grid at a street circuit, there is no point going out with no fuel. At most you will pass three cars and after your last stop you stay where you are. It's a senseless strategy,” said Piquet, according to the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport.

Contradicting Piquet Sr. was, however, the very FIA president Max Mosley, who insisted that the ruling body has no proof whatsoever of Alonso's involvement in the whole scandal. More, as revealed by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone himself, the man everybody in the Piquet family seems to be after at the moment is solely Flavio Briatore.

Nelson told me that he is going to do everything he can to destroy Briatore,” reportedly told the 78-year old Brit reporters from the aforementioned publication.

Apart from being good friends, Ecclestone and Briatore are also business partners. The two are currently co-owning English Coca-Cola Championship football club Queens Park Rangers, purchased back in 2007.
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