Renault retaliate in crash row

The team have chosen to act in the wake of allegations made by their former driver Piquet Junior, that he deliberately crashed his car in last year's Singapore Grand Prix to the advantage of Fernando Alonso.

Renault are also acting against Piquet Senior over what they claim is an attempt to blackmail team principal Flavio Briatore.

A statement from Renault read: "The FIA has announced it is to hold an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on 21 September 2009.

"The ING Renault F1 Team is to attend that meeting and answer allegations that members of the team conspired with Nelson Piquet Jnr to cause a deliberate accident at the 2008 Singapore GP, so that Fernando Alonso might benefit from the resulting safety car.

"The ING Renault F1 Team had not commented publicly during the FIA's initial investigation into this matter.

"However, today (September 11) the ING Renault F1 Team and its managing director Flavio Briatore personally wish to state they have commenced criminal proceedings against Nelson Piquet Junior and Nelson Piquet Senior in France concerning the making of false allegations and a related attempt to blackmail the team into allowing Mr Piquet Jnr to drive for the remainder of the 2009 season.

"The matter will also be referred to the police in the UK."

On Thursday, Renault driver Fernando Alonso categorically denied involvement in the incident.

The Spaniard went into the race carrying far less fuel than Piquet at a circuit where overtaking is difficult. Alonso pitted on lap 12, with Piquet crashing two laps later. The accident happened on a part of the track where no crane was on hand, forcing the safety car into play.

The double world champion ultimately inherited the lead later in the race before going on to take the chequered flag.

But asked specifically if he knew of what transpired on September 28 last year, Alonso issued a firm and unequivocal "no".