Flavio Briatore is out for blood. The flamboyant Italian billionaire and disgraced former director of the Renault Formula One team was kicked out of the sport by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) in the wake of the "Crashgate" affair involving Nelson Piquet Jr., but subsequently won an appeal in French courts overturning the FIA's ban (along with that of his cohort Pat Symonds) The courts upheld the argument made by Briatore's lawyers that the FIA's judicial process was corrupted under Max Mosley's presidency, and that its rulings were illegal.
Despite the legal victory, Briatore says he'll never manage another F1 team again. He is, however, reportedly opening another lawsuit against the FIA for lost income. Part of the lifetime ban imposed by the motorsport governing body included Briatore's driver management agency, which had to give up such talents as Fernando Alonso and Heikki Kovalainen. The lawsuit will seek damages for those lost revenues, as well as the damage caused to Briatore's professional reputation.
For its part, the FIA – now under new leadership – has announced its intention to overhaul its procedures to separate the powers, but that won't stop Flavio from seeking his day in court.
[Sources: Pitpass, Autosport | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]
Despite the legal victory, Briatore says he'll never manage another F1 team again. He is, however, reportedly opening another lawsuit against the FIA for lost income. Part of the lifetime ban imposed by the motorsport governing body included Briatore's driver management agency, which had to give up such talents as Fernando Alonso and Heikki Kovalainen. The lawsuit will seek damages for those lost revenues, as well as the damage caused to Briatore's professional reputation.
For its part, the FIA – now under new leadership – has announced its intention to overhaul its procedures to separate the powers, but that won't stop Flavio from seeking his day in court.
[Sources: Pitpass, Autosport | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]
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