Briatore and the FIA Reach a Compromise

Flavio Briatore and the F1 governing bodies have finally reached an agreement in their dispute, which dates back to the sanctions imposed on Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds in the Renault affair. The two had been banned from the sport for their involvement in the 2008 scandal after the Singapore Grand Prix. However, this ban was overturned by a French court due to irregularities in the process. The FIA had then stated that it was considering appealing the decision, but this option is now off the table as an agreement has been found.

The agreement does not imply in any way a possible return of Briatore or Symonds to Formula 1. This could only happen at the start of the 2013 season. The same note applies to other FIA sports with a ban until the end of the 2011 season. In a statement issued on Monday, the FIA said that Briatore and Symonds have expressed their regrets and apologies for their actions.

« In return, they asked the FIA to drop the ongoing appeal process and to waive the right to initiate a new procedure against them regarding this matter, » said the FIA.

Considering that the decision of January 5, 2010, pertains only to the form and not the substance of the World Council’s decision of September 21, 2009, and that the actions and the renunciation of all claims expressed by Mr. Flavio Briatore and Mr. Pat Symonds align with the objectives of the World Council. The President of the FIA deemed it in the interests of the FIA not to allow the continuation of these disputes, which have received extensive media coverage and, regardless of the outcome, are highly detrimental to the image of the FIA and motorsport, and thus to accept this settlement solution, thereby bringing this matter to a close.

The governing body also indicated that it was working on a structural reform of the statutes to avoid further misunderstandings, referring to the verdict of the French court.