25 September,2009 07:54 AM IST | | AFP
Disgraced Formula One giants Renault suffered another devastating blow yesterday when the team's main sponsors severed their contract with immediate effect in another twist to the Singapore GP race-fix scandal.
Dutch banking group ING said their three-year deal will be terminated after Renault were handed a two-year suspended ban following former driver Nelson Piquet's claims that he had been ordered to deliberately crash at the 2008 Singapore race.
Former team principal Flavio Briatore, who quit the team in the aftermath of the crisis, was also handed a lifetime ban when the FIA's World Motor Sport Council met in Paris on Monday.
"ING announced that in light of the verdict of the World Motor Sport Council of 21 September 2009 concerning the events that occurred at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, ING will terminate the contract with Renault Formula 1 with immediate effect," said a statement.
"ING is deeply disappointed at this turn of events, especially in the context of an otherwise successful sponsorship. Fellow sponsor Mutua Madrilena also announced they were ending their agreement with Renault, blaming the team's "substantial breach" of the sport's regulations.
