The auto industry is one of the hardest-hit victims of the global financial crisis. Tens of thousands of jobs are at stake worldwide. Detroit's once-mighty GM is on the brink of collapse, while in France, Renault employees fear job cuts.
Poland's Robert Kubica (pictured) is to join the Renault Formula One team, replacing Fernando Alonso as of next season, the team, which has had a scandal-hit year, said in a statement.
Ferrari ace Felipe Massa has called for the result of 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to be scrapped from the records, claiming that Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed, “robbed” him of glory and changed the outcome of the championship.
Renault's driver Fernando Alonso will replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next season. The Spaniard, who has signed a three-year deal, will partner Brazil's Felipe Massa. Raikkonen has been linked in the media with a return to McLaren.
The technical director of Renault's Formula One team, Briton Bob Bell, will stand in as team manager to the end of the season following the departure of Flavio Briatore in a race-fixing controversy dubbed the "Crashgate".
The FIA, Formula One's governing body, has handed Renault a two-year suspended ban for fixing last year's Singapore Grand Prix. Former team boss Flavio Briatore has been banned from the sport for life.
Renault's F1 team is up against the wall as it faces the sport's governing body on charges it deliberately fixed a race last year. With Renault cash-strapped and F1 reeling from corruption scandals, the implications for motor racing could be huge.
Flavio Briatore, the head of the Renault F1 team, and his director of engineering have sensationally resigned amid allegations of race-fixing at last year's Singapore Grand Prix, Renault said in a statement on Wednesday.
Force India's Andrian Sutil (pictured) set the quickest time in the second free practice for the Monza Grand Prix. French rookie Romain Grosjean came in second.
