Audio of Briatore Comments & F1 Says Ban Continues

FIA stand firm on Briatore's lifetime ban
AFP 6 January 2010,

PARIS: Formula One's governing body, the FIA, insisted on Wednesday that the lifetime suspension from motor sport imposed on former Renault boss Day in Pics: January 5

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Flavio Briatore still applies despite it being overturned by a Paris court.

The high court in Paris on Tuesday "ruled the sanction illegal," citing "irregularities" in the FIA's decision in September to ban Briatore for allegedly ordering Nelson Piquet junior to crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Former Renault technical director Pat Symonds, who had been handed a five-year ban, also had his suspension overturned.

But the FIA said in a statement the court's decision was "not enforceable until the FIA's appeal options have been exhausted."

"Until then, the World Motor Sport Council's decision continues to apply," the FIA said.

"In addition, the FIA intends to consider appropriate actions to ensure that no persons who would engage, or who have engaged, in such dangerous activities or acts of intentional cheating will be allowed to participate in Formula One in the future.

"The FIA's ability to exclude those who intentionally put others' lives at risk has never before been put into doubt and the FIA is carefully considering its appeal options on this point."

The scandal centred on driver Piquet junior's claims that the team had ordered him to crash deliberately at Singapore to enable teammate Fernando Alonso to go on and win.

Meanwhile Briatore told the Milan daily La Gazzetta dello Sport Wednesday that he was considering legal action against Nelson Piquet Jr. and the driver's father over claims they made about his involvement in the "crashgate" scandal.

Asked whether he intended to take legal action, Briatore said: "Very probably. The damage that was done to me isn't forgotten in a day."

Briatore also hit out at former FIA president Max Mosley, who "always managed the FIA and the world council like his private property."

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