|
|
Post by QPR Report on May 15, 2010 9:25:34 GMT
AP Briatore returns as F1 guest at Monaco GP By Paul Logothetis, AP Auto Racing Writer MONACO — Flavio Briatore has returned as a guest to Formula One at the Monaco Grand Prix, and FIA president Jean Todt says that's OK with the governing body. Briatore is a guest of F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone for the street circuit race. The former Renault team principal is banned from all motor racing activities through 2013 for allegedly ordering former team driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash at the Singapore GP in 2008. Todt tells the Associated Press that Briatore is "free" to mingle inside the paddock because he doesn't have an "active role" in any motor racing activities. Briatore lunched with Ecclestone inside the paddock on Friday, a traditional day off. www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2010-05-14-3177517604_x.htmwww.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/may/14/flavio-briatore-bernie-ecclestone-monaco
|
|
|
|
Post by QPR Report on May 15, 2010 9:28:30 GMT
Telegraph Commentary Tom Cary Tom Cary is The Telegraph's Formula One Correspondent, a post to which he was appointed in December 2008. Monaco Grand Prix: Briatore lunches with Bernie inside paddock By Tom Cary Formula One Last updated: May 14th, 2010 What to make of the fact that Flavio Briatore was in the Monaco paddock today having lunch with Bernie Ecclestone? The Italian was originally given a lifetime ban from the sport for his role in the Renault race-fixing affair at Singapore in 2008. That was overturned by a French court in January, a decision the FIA vowed to appeal, only for an amnesty to be agreed between both parties that would see Briatore not take any ‘active role’ in F1 until 2013. I have written before about what a sour taste that particular ‘deal’ left in the mouth but that is not my point this time. My point this time is that both the FIA and Renault’s independent investigators found Briatore guilty of ordering Nelson Piquet Jnr to crash his car in Singapore. Even when his ban was overturned in court, they insisted that was due to a procedural technicality and made it clear they still considered him guilty. The wording of the ‘deal’ might have allowed him some wriggle room – they said he was only responsible “in his capacity as head of the Renault F1 team” – and Briatore has always maintained he is innocent, but to all intents and purposes the FIA still consider him guilty. Why then allow a man they consider guilty of one of the worst sporting crimes of all time back into the paddock? And why is Bernie lunching with him publicly? Yes, they are old mates but couldn’t they meet in private, away from F1. This was a statement. You can be sure he would not have been allowed had Max Mosley, the man who tried to ban Briatore for life, still been in charge. But he isn’t, and FIA president Jean Todt seems happy to let it slide. Asked to comment today, Todt said that Briatore is “free” to mingle inside the paddock since he does not have an “active role” in any motor racing activities (whatever that means). What kind of message does that send out? Doesn’t seem very much like strong leadership to me, as well as being hugely dubious morally. As I have said before, either Flavio is guilty, in which case he should never be allowed back. Or he is innocent, in which case he shouldn’t have to wait until 2013. This current limbo is very strange and will lead to all sorts of speculation as to what they could have been discussing. blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tomcary/100008286/monaco-grand-prix-briatore-lunches-with-bernie-inside-paddock/ |
|
|
|
Post by QPR Report on May 15, 2010 20:16:09 GMT
Motorsports Saturday in Monaco: From the paddock to the parties Racing series COMMENTARY F1 Date 2010-05-15 By Berthold Bouman - Motorsport.com "...Mr. Innocent is back in the paddock And speaking of celebrities, unbelievable but true, disgraced ex-Renault team principal and alleged crash-gate initiator Flavio Briatore was spotted in the Formula One paddock on Friday. Many people had already spotted Briatore's yacht, the Force Blue, in the harbor, and were wondering what Briatore was doing in Monaco. He attended a party at the yacht of Force India owner Vijay Mallya on Thursday evening, and had lunch with longtime friend and business partner Bernie Ecclestone on Friday. Briatore is back in the paddock. Photo by xpb.cc. Briatore and his co-conspirator Renault engineer Pat Symonds were banned for life from the sport after the crash-gate scandal during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, where he and Symonds allegedly asked Renault driver Nelson A. Piquet to deliberately crash his car. As a result of the crash Fernando Alonso, who was driving for Renault at the time, won the race. The FIA also decided the pair was also not allowed to enter any areas at FIA-sanctioned events, including the paddock. Briatore successfully appealed the FIA's decision and earlier this year a French court overturned the ban, and Briatore even was rewarded 15,000 Euro in compensation. The FIA announced, at the time, that they would appeal the decision of the French court, but in April the FIA stated they had reached an agreement and the life-time ban was reduced to a 2-year ban, both Briatore and Symonds are allowed to return to Formula One in 2013. FIA president Jean Todt, who promised he would not personally be involved in Formula One during the FIA election campaign last year, has now decided that Briatore is welcome again in the paddock, because 'he doesn't have an active role' in Formula One. Indeed Mr. Todt, Briatore has no 'active role' in the sport anymore, because everyone in the Formula One world, including the World Motor Sport Council, thought he shouldn't have one anymore, and unless the writer of this column is very mistaken, that was in fact his punishment. And now that he no longer is to have an active role, why is he welcome again? To do what? To 'not be involved' in Formula One? Next, and last question, is of course: what is Briatore up to, this whole charade was clearly planned, he is not in Monaco to enjoy the sun and he has no intention to say goodbye to Formula One so he must be on a mission, he's paving the way for something... www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=368155&FS=F1 |
|
|
|
Post by QPR Report on May 15, 2010 20:17:30 GMT
Ecclestone: I miss Briatore15 May 2010 Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has said he is missing Flavio Briatore's presence in the F1 paddock. The flamboyant Italian was banned from Formula 1 but back for a party on Thursday evening on Vijay Mallya's boat in the Monaco harbour. "Yes I miss having Flavio (Briatore) about the place," Ecclestone told The Telegraph. "He is good company and he was good for this sport. People associated him with F1. He was a character. We miss Max (Mosley), too. Max got a lot more right than wrong."  Briatore's boat in Monaco this weekend f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-news/234711/ecclestone-i-miss-briatore/
|
|
|
|
Post by cpr on May 15, 2010 22:41:26 GMT
Is anyone surprised by this news?
It's Monaco, who thought he wouldn't be there?
|
|
|
|
Post by QPR Report on May 17, 2010 8:22:54 GMT
Back managing drivers Mirror - Mark Webber wins Monaco Grand Prix Byron Young at Monte Carlo 16/05/2010 Mark Webber became the first Australian for over half a century to win the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. The 33-year-old scored his second victory in eight days as he charged from pole to win the greatest race on earth. And he won it by just 0.4 seconds after the final three laps were run under a safety car. The Red Bull racer did not make a single slip for 77 laps despite three safety car periods as he headed teammate Sebastian Vettel home in the sixth round. Not since Black Jack Brabham charged over the finish line in 1959 in a Cooper on the way to his first world title has an Australian triumphed here. Red Bull recorded their second 1-2 in four races to move to joint leaders of the championship in 78 points. The results could not come at a better time for Webber. His manager Flavio Briatore opened contract talks for next season this weekend but the man from Queanbeyan said he is in no hurry to make a decision over his future. Webber and Vettel now share 78 points at the head of the drivers championship but the older man sits at the top courtesy of a superior number of wins. Robert Kubica took the final place on the podium in third with Felipe Massa fourth, Lewis Hamilton fifth. It was hardly a vintage Monte Carlo but the race was not without drama. The safety car was called out four times but it was pressed into use after just one lap. Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg crashed going through the tunnel for the first time. The knock on effect of some slow laps behind the safety car was to prove costly for points leader Jenson Button who recorded his first blank of the season after he retired on the second lap. www.mirror.co.uk/sport/motorsport/2010/05/16/mark-webber-wins-monaco-grand-prix-115875-22263126/ |
|
|
|
Post by froggyranger on May 17, 2010 8:34:37 GMT
Of course Briatore would be at the Grand Prix,it would be naieve to think otherwise. He is still promoting his Billionaire brand and runs a "Billionaire" nightclub at the Fairmont Hotel for the 3 nights of the Grand Prix. Ecclestone has never given a toss what people think about his relationship with Briatore, so it's hardly suprising to see him inviting Briatore into the paddock.
|
|
|
|
Post by haqpr1963 on May 17, 2010 10:59:31 GMT
What is that truly awful crest he is wearing in the above photos?
God help any corporate entity he might be involved with if they ever get stuck with an horrible badge like that.....
Hold on a mo... Oh, bugger...... ;D
|
|
