Former F1 Champion Niki Lauda has urged the FIA to throw the book at Renault because of the race-fixing scandal.
Ex-champion believes Renault case is the worst thing to happen in F1
Former F1 Champion Niki Lauda has urged the FIA to throw the book at Renault, stating that the race-fixing allegations are the "biggest damage ever" to F1's reputation.
Renault will face the FIA's World Motor Sport Council on Monday to answer charges relating to last year's Singapore GP. The team is charged with ordering Nelson Piquet Jr to deliberately crash in order to help his team-mate win the race.
Renault have already revealed that they will not dispute the allegations and have parted ways with team boss Flavio Briatore and tech director Pat Symonds.
And although these steps could help limit potential punishment, Lauda says the FIA needs to come down hard on Renault.
Disbelief
"When I first heard the accusation that Renault had asked Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately, the question was whether it was true or not," he said.
"If it was true, then it amounted to the worst thing that has happened in Formula One.
"There is only one other incident that comes near - Michael Schumacher parking his Ferrari on the racing line at Monaco in 2006 to block Fernando Alonso's last qualifying lap. But, really, even that is not comparable.
"This time it was about manipulating a race. There was also the obvious danger to Piquet, other drivers and spectators.
"Yes, the McLaren spying scandal two years ago was extremely serious but mechanics have always discussed technical data among themselves.
"This, though, is new. The biggest damage ever. Now the FIA must punish Renault heavily to restore credibility in the sport."
Danger
The one part of the story that Lauda is still struggling to understand is why a driver would crash deliberately.
"Certainly, I would never have crashed on order: firstly, because sport is sport and secondly, because in my day I could have hurt or killed myself," he added.
"My Nurburgring crash in 1976 was big. I got straight back in and drove as soon as I could. Others were not so lucky. Some died. We do not want a sport where we are putting lives at risk for all the worst reasons.
"Why did Piquet do it? Remember, he was a young driver - more of a child than a man - and was put under pressure by the team who told him what he must do in order to get a new contract. When I drove we were men and would have said no."
