Renault F1 Crashgate Scandal (B)
RENAULT FORMULA ONE ‘CRASHGATE’ SCANDAL (B) FLAVIO BRIATORE FIGHTS BACK After a period of silence following the World Motor Sport Council Meeting in Paris, Flavio Briatore launched a fight back, making an appeal to Tribunal de Grande [the Superior Court in France] on 19th October 2009. Briatore said to the media that the FIA’s verdict was “a tool of vengeance on behalf of one man”1, implying that to Max Mosley, former President of the FIA, who was known to be conflicted with Briatore. He further added, saying that the FIA had failed to provide sufficient evidence against him and considered his lifetime ban as a personal attack rather than a valid sanction. TRIBUNAL DE GRANDE RULING AND FIA RESPONSE On 15th January 2010, the Tribunal de Grande in Paris over-ruled the FIA’s decision posed on Briatore and Symonds, overturning both bans and even awarding Briatore 15,000 Euros in compensation.1 The French Court found the FIA’s decision to be irregular and questioned the FIA’s authority to impose bans on Briatore and Symonds whom were both not FIA license holders. The FIA responded by announcing their intention of not enforcing the Tribunal court’s decision until the appeal options have been exhausted. It claimed that the court made their decision merely on “technical or procedural issues” without considering the substance of deliberately crashing. On the following statement, the FIA stated that “no persons ... who have engaged in such dangerous activities or acts of intentional cheating will be allowed to participate in Formula One in the future”, revealing their determination on imposing the ban on Briatore.2 In addition, Jean Todt, the FIA’s new president announced that he and his team will be introducing new measures for constructive change and these measures includes a disciplinary procedure and once in place, the new procedure will address the issues in the Court’s judgment.3 On the other hand, Briatore celebrated the...