After being sentenced to lifetime ban even as a spectator from FIA’s motor racing, a French court has just announced that the former Renault Team manager, the flamboyant Flavio Briatore has won his appeal about FIA’s decision.
F1's governing body, Federation d’ Automobile Internationale ruled last September that Briatore ordered Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to deliberately crash his car to help teammate Fernando Alonso win the Singtel Singapore Grand Prix in 2008.
Many F1 analysts believe that the accident was the actual reason Fellipe Massa lost the 2008 F1 Championship while during the pitstop he made after the accident, he left his pitbox prematurely with the fuel pipe that was fuelling his car still detached on causing him to lose valuable time and finishing outside the points classification.
Briatore denied having a role in the scheme and took legal action to be reinstated and on Tuesday a Paris court overturned his ban. Briatore has also asked for $1.5 million for the restoration of his reputation and financial loses.
After the verdict he quoted:
"I am very happy for me and my family because I have endured some very difficult months. The verdict has given me back my dignity and freedom that were taken away from me in a very arbitrary way. My attention is on my family then we'll see (about coming back to the sport). It will take a bit of time because the pain I felt in recent months was very deep."
Briatore started his business development as a restaurant owner in north Italy. As a result of his friendship with Rocco Benetton, he became a successful Gen. Manager of United Colors of Benetton's North America branch in late 80s and connected his name with F1 for over 20 years. Briatore was Benetton's Team manager of Schumacher's first world titles as well as the one who stopped German ace's domination in middle 00s with the help of Fernando Alonso after managing an unbeaten F1 Renault team. He was also known for his motor enterprise Supertec who was managing 1997 Renault F1 engines, the buyout of Ligier Team in 1997 and his growing Young Talent Driver Management enterprise. Finally he is known for being the co-owner of English Championship football team QPR and his affairs with celebrity top models Naomi Campbel and Elisabetta Gregoraci.
Now what for Flavio?
Which is his next racing move?
Will he return in F1 as a full team owner?
BY CHRIS KASTA
