Renault charged for Piquet crash at Singapore Grand Prix

Then-Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. had crashed into a wall during the Singapore Grand Prix last year, which resulted in the deployment of the safety car, and Alonso took advantage to go on to win the race.

Following a tip-off that came to light around the time of last weekend's Belgian GP, the FIA interviewed team members at Spa-Francorchamps and has been carrying out a further investigation in recent days.

Renault has now been asked to appear before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris" on 21 September, where they have been charged with "conspiring with Piquet™ to cause a deliberate crash™ with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of its other driver, Fernando Alonso."

If Renault is found guilty of breaching article 151c, which relates to "fraudulent conduct" that is against "the interests of motor sport", they could face punishments ranging from fines to total expulsion from the sport.