The latest in a series of controversial events that have damaged the reputation of Formula One appears to have come to an end. Earlier today, the World Motor Sport Council found Renault guilty of charges of race fixing. That didn’t come as a surprise because Renault did not contest the charges brought against them. What did come as a surprise was the punishment (or lack there of) that Renault was given. The team was given a suspended two year ban.

The World Motor Sport Council gave Renault a suspended ban based on the outcome of an internal investigation conducted by Renault. That investigation indicated that Flavio Briatore, Pat Symonds, and Nelson Piquet Jr. were the only members of the team involved in the crash conspiracy. Based on that information, the FIA chose not to bring a harsh punishment down on Renault. Cynics, including myself, believe that the reason that the ban has been suspended was to prevent Renault from choosing to leave the sport at the end of the season. However, according to the WMSC, the punishment will “activate this disqualification if Renault F1 is found guilty of a comparable breach” between now and the end of 2011.

The FIA are believed to have granted Nelson Piquet immunity in the proceedings so no actions were taken against him. That doesn’t guarantee him a race seat next season. He is trying to get one, however. I would imagine that’s unlikely to happen because the public relations nightmare a team would have in justifying hiring a man that conspired to fix the outcome of a race by crashing.

The WMSC was unable to directly punish former Renault employees Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds. This is because they are no longer representing companies under FIA jurisdiction like Renault F1. However, they were essentially banned from all FIA governed motorsports. The FIA will not sanction any event or series employing the two, nor will they grant a license to a team they work for. Specifically for Briatore, any drivers which Briatore manages will not have their FIA Super Licenses renewed. Currently, it is believed he is still managing Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen and they will have to find new management before next season. For Symonds, the FIA ban on his employment last for five years while Briatore’s was listed as “unlimited.”

Meanwhile, Renault are still soldiering on with their 2009 campaign. They are rumoured to be close to hiring French F1 legend Alain Prost to take over as team principal.

For the full text of the World Motor Sports Council’s decision, click here.