One of the worst examples of premeditated cheating in the history of professional sport went from being lurid allegations to fact this afternoon when the Renault Formula One team sensationally stated that they would not dispute claims made against their conduct at last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

In a short statement the team said that they "will not dispute" the allegations that Nelson Piquet Jr, their former driver, was asked to crash his car on purpose at the race, a scheme designed to help his team-mate Fernando Alonso, win the Grand Prix. The team also disclosed that both Flavio Briatore, the managing director, and Pat Symonds, the highly respected director of engineering, have left. It did not say whether they have been sacked.

So there we have it. Renault does not contest that the two most senior figures in one of the biggest Formula One teams were involved in a scheme not only to cheat, but one which, in a premeditated way, put the life of their driver, other drivers and marshals at risk. These were not rogue employees but the top two figures in the team, something that represents a gross betrayal of their duty of care to Piquet, who, fortunately, was not injured in the crash on lap 14 of the race last September.

With both Briatore and Symonds departing, it means that the FIA's World Motor Sport Council hearing into the matter in Paris on Monday will focus mainly on what sanctions should be applied to the team, as opposed to establishing whether or not Piquet's allegations are true. The impression at this stage is that the governing body is likely to accept that, by stating that it will not contest allegations and by removing the conspirators, Renault have gone a long way to clearing this matter up.

There seems a very strong chance that Bernie Ecclestone, the sport's commercial rights-holder, will succeed in ensuring that the team as a whole are not thrown out of Formula One. More likely Renault could be handed a significant fine, possible points deductions or perhaps suspension from a number of races.

For Briatore this is a spectacular and disgraceful end to a career in Formula One spanning 20 years that has encompassed four world drivers' titles, two for Michael Schumacher at Benetton and two for Fernando Alonso at Renault. For Symonds the fall from grace is even more dramatic. Unlike Briatore he was a widely respected figure with 30 years' experience and was regarded as one of the best technical and tactical minds in the paddock. His demise is a sad moment that has left many of his friends in the sport in a state of shock.

And what of Piquet? He was, by his own admission, a willing conspirator who deliberately drove his car into the wall. He has been granted immunity from punishment by the FIA in recognition of his bringing this matter to the governing body's attention. His future in the sport remains uncertain. His role in this affair has left him damaged, but he is also struggling against a wider perception in Formula One that he was not up to the task of driving at this level in any case.

Briatore and Symonds were unavailable for comment.