Among the documents released by the FIA following its investigation of 'Crashgate' is a heart-rending letter from Pat Symonds in which the highly respected former Executive Director of Engineering at Renault admits his "eternal regret and shame".

In the letter, which was read to the World Motor Sport Council at yesterday's extraordinary meeting, Symonds, who declined the invitation to attend, writes: "I would like to acknowledge my role in this incident. I was the one who, when the idea was first suggested to me by Nelson Piquet Jr., should have dismissed it immediately.

"It is to my eternal regret and shame I did not do so," he continues. "I can only say I did it out of a misguided devotion to my team and not for any personal gain whatsoever. I consider the role I have played in bringing the team to where it is today to be my life's work.

"In a single action I have destroyed the high reputation I have built up during a 33-year career in motor sport. On that night in Singapore last year I made a mistake the consequences of which I could never have imagined at the time. For that mistake I can only offer all of you, and all those touched by the action I was involved in, my profound apology."