Nelson Piquet Jnr and Nelson Picquet Snr have won in their libel case against Renault.
The case, which was brought by the Piquets following the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, hinged around the Renault accusation that Piquets junior and senior made an “attempt to blackmail the team”.
The Piquets lawyer, Ben Crossley said, in his statement following the decision:
“Today the Renault Formula 1 team apologised in the High Court for defaming my two clients, the motor racing father and son Nelson and Nelsinho Piquet.”They were both treated appallingly by Renault F1 when they dared to reveal the scandal to the governing body.
“Nelson Piquet dominated F1 during the early 80s and his reputation as a motorsport legend should remain untarnished by this saga.
“F1 has been deprived of the best of Nelsinho and it is to its detriment that his talent is now being demonstrated elsewhere.”
“Whilst neither of them should ever have had to prove Renault F1’s allegations false they are both delighted with the successful conclusion of the case.”
“This marks the start rather than the end of the long journey they are both taking to correct many of the wrongs that took place during last year’s “crash-gate” scandal.”
The result means that Renault must pay substantial damages to the pair.
Renault have already been found guilty of race fixing, in asking Piquet to crash in order to allow Fernando Alonso to win, as Singapore GP 2008.
