FOTA hits out at leaks

The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) added its views on the latest race fixing controversy when it hit out at the information leaks that have been a feature of the scandal.

FOTA, the organisation that represents all of the teams taking part in this season's world championship, issued a statement in which it deplored the leaks of official information and the lack of professionalism that they betrayed.

"All parties to the dispute should have the right to a fair hearing carried out in private and not in the public arena, which is producing adverse publicity damaging to the corporate image and credibility of Formula 1," said the statement.

"FOTA believes that differences within the sport should be handled in a professional manner and condemns the habit of intentionally releasing confidential documents to influence public opinion. Confidential documents should remain under the control of the competent authority."

The teams' response followed Renault's decision, announced on Friday morning, to begin criminal proceedings in France against Nelson Piquet junior and his father for their claims that the team asked Piquet to crash deliberately during last year's 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Details of the allegations made against Renault by Piquet were published widely on the internet on Thursday and included a copy of what appeared to be the driver's full statement to the investigators working for the International Motoring Federation (FIA).

It is claimed that Piquet crashed at the request of his team in order to assist his Renault team-mate Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who went on to win the race.

The source of the leaks was not identified, leaving the FIA red-faced and promising a major investigation.

FIA president Max Mosley told reporters on Friday: "That is actually very unfortunate because it is just one side of the story. We are quite genuinely curious as to how that happened. Next time, when we send out to 20 or 30 people, we will probably arrange it in such a way that we can tell who is leaking stuff. We don't know how it happened."