Formula 1 governing body the FIA has elected to appeal the decision made by French courts to overturn the lifetime ban of Flavio Briatore. The former Renault F1 Managing Director saw the punishment lifted last week after the Tribunal de Grande Instance questioned the FIA's ability to impose such a penalty.
With Briatore banned from FIA motorsport in September for his part in the 'Crashgate' race-fixing scandal of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, the Italian submitted a decision to appeal in October before the Paris court revealed last week that the hearing had been successful, lifting the ban (providing the FIA did not appeal).
With the FIA now having decided to launch its own appeal, though, the federation stressed last week that the French court had only questioned the manner in which the ban was applied, as opposed to clearing Briatore as innocent.
'The President of the FIA has consulted the FIA Senate and the FIA's lawyers about the decision of the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris of 5 January,' reads a Monday statement from the FIA. 'It was unanimously agreed that an appeal would be prepared.
'In his election campaign last summer, FIA President Jean Todt and his team announced that new measures for constructive change, including a disciplinary procedure, would be introduced. Work on this is well advanced. Once in place, this will address the issues in the Court's judgement. Nonetheless, an appeal is merited.'
With drivers managed by Briatore - notably Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen - having been informed previously that any renewing of a required racing Superlicence would not be granted should an association with Briatore continue, the FIA has now said that this rule will not apply; Lotus' Kovalainen and Virgin's Lucas di Grassi, however, have already terminated their management contracts with the 59-year-old.
'While the appeal is underway, the World Motor Sport Council's decision of 21 September 2009 remains in full effect,' the FIA statement continues. 'However, in view of the uncertainty that this may create for drivers who may be affected by this decision, the FIA President and FIA Senate have decided that, pending the outcome of the FIA's appeal, Superlicences will continue to be issued to qualifying drivers in the usual way.'
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