Flavio Briatore intends to take the Piquets to court following his successful appeal against a lifetime ban from Formula One.
Briatore was given the ban by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council for his involvement in the ‘crashgate’ scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. This ban was overturned by a Parisian court yesterday and Briatore has stated his intention to pursue legal action against the Piquets.
“The bad that has been done to me won't be forgotten in one day,” Briatore told Italian paper Gazzetto dello Sport.
The ex-Renault chief then went on to attack former FIA president Max Mosley for his part in the FIA’s action.
"It was a case of vengeance from Mosley, who has always managed the FIA and the World Council as if it was private property," said Briatore. "He had reassured me, telling me they understood I didn't have anything to do with that story. Then came that verdict. It was an ignoble thing after 18 years of F1.
"First Mosley tried to make me lose titles, first with Schumi [Michael Schumacher] then with Alonso, and then to destroy me with this story."
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says the sport would welcome Briatore back if he wanted to.
“He is welcome to come back to the paddock,” Ecclestone told the Daily Express. “He was a great character in F1 but I am not sure if that is what he wants to do now. I think he will move on from that. It's good for him but it is not good for the FIA when you read the verdict.”
The FIA has released a statement saying it may appeal against the Briatore decision, as well as the one awarded to the ex-Renault technical chief Pat Symonds, whose five-year ban was also overturned.
“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,” said the statement.
“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."
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Re: Briatore 'to take Piquets to court'
He should never be allowed back. As the article states, he put lives at risk. But saying that the UK mental service lets out patients that end up killing.. (because they're no longer a risk).
Re: Briatore 'to take Piquets to court'
Sounds to me if the F1/FIA circus has finally descended to the level of the kindergarten. I wish these very rich men would start acting their chronological ages not their (British) shoe sizes and finally get round to making F! interesting for us spectators!
Re: Briatore 'to take Piquets to court'
Time for the FIA and others to sue Briatore. Potential risk to life of competitors and specators, the impact on the championship - Ferrari could argue the crash cost them the drivers title. Briatore should never be allowed back on a F1 circuit.