French Court Overturns Flavio Briatore's Lifetime Ban

Remember the Renault crash-gate scandal? One that led to former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and former engineering director Pat Symonds being banned from FIA-related events indefinitely and for five years, respectively? The two men appealed to the French high court, which after several months of deliberation, has just ruled in favour of the two men against the FIA, hence overturning the imposed bans.

The ruling judge of the Paris court found that the FIA had no authority to impose such bans in the first place, saying “The FIA ... can sanction licence holders, leaders, members of the ASNs (national sporting authorities), but it cannot, with respect to third parties, take measures equivalent to a sanction—in contravention of article 28 of its statutes”.

The verdict also cited former FIA president Max Mosley's role in the entire incident as grounds for dismissing the case, saying “The decision of the World Council was presided over by the FIA president, who was well known to be in conflict with Briatore, with Mr. Mosley having played a leading role in launching the enquiry and its investigation in violation of the principle of separation of the power of the bodies”.

FIA is said to be considering an appeal, but for now, it will have to announce the court's decision to the public through advertisements in French newspapers.