Vatanen critical of Piquet Jr immunity

FIA presidential candidate Ari Vatanen believes that Nelson Piquet Jr should have been punished for his role in Formula One's "Crashgate" affair. Vatanen told CNN: "I do not understand why Nelson Piquet Jr wasn't punished. For me his immunity was not correct."

"He only went public after he was sacked," Vatanen said. "He should have said no in the first place. If someone is crazy enough to propose something like that you say no. He should have been given a sentence."

Much of the criticism until now has focused on the perceived leniency of the Renault team's punishment of a two-year suspended ban plus paying the costs of the investigation. But Vatanen thinks that they have been treated fairly.

"It would be wrong to punish a team severely who is totally unaware of what a few individuals are doing. In that sense the verdict was right."

Vatanen prefers to look at the "Crashgate" punishments from a different perspective. The question, he thinks, shouldn't be why did Renault get off so lightly? But rather, why were McLaren treated so severely two years ago?

"In the light of the Renault punishment, McLaren [who were fined $100 million for spying on rivals Ferrari] received a gross miscarriage of justice," Vatanen said.