PARIS: Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, insisted Wednesday that the lifetime suspension from motor sport imposed on former Renault boss Flavio Briatore still applies despite it being overturned by a Paris court.

The high court in Paris on Tuesday “ruled the sanction illegal,” citing “irregularities” in the FIA’s decision in September to ban Briatore for allegedly ordering Nelson Piquet junior to crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Former Renault technical director Pat Symonds, who had been handed a five-year ban, also had his suspension overturned.

But the FIA said in a statement the court’s decision was “not enforceable until the FIA’s appeal options have been exhausted.” “Until then, the World Motor Sport Council’s decision continues to apply,” the FIA said.

“In addition, the FIA intends to consider appropriate actions to ensure that no persons who would engage, or who have engaged, in such dangerous activities or acts of intentional cheating will be allowed to participate in Formula One in the future.

“The FIA’s ability to exclude those who intentionally put others’ lives at risk has never before been put into doubt and the FIA is carefully considering its appeal options on this point.” The scandal centered on driver Piquet junior’s claims that the team had ordered him to crash deliberately at Singapore to enable teammate Fernando Alonso to go on and win.

Meanwhile Briatore told the Milan daily La Gazzetta dello Sport Wednesday that he was considering legal action against Nelson Piquet Jr. and the driver’s father over claims they made about his involvement in the “crashgate” scandal.

Asked whether he intended to take legal action, Briatore said: “Very probably. The damage that was done to me isn’t forgotten in a day.” Briatore also hit out at former FIA president Max Mosley, who “always managed the FIA and the world council like his private property.”

Briatore

not rushing

Meanwhilel, Flavio Briatore says he won’t rush back into Formula One even though a French court has overturned his indefinite ban.

F1’s governing body banned the former Renault team boss after ruling he ordered Nelson Piquet Jr. to deliberately crash his car to help teammate Fernando Alonso win the Singapore Grand Prix in 2008.

Briatore said he was innocent and a civil court in Paris overturned the ban on Tuesday. Although the world governing body is considering an appeal, Briatore said he had no immediate plans to return to the sport.

He told the BBC he was happy to enjoy the moment of having his freedom and dignity back and wanted to spend time with his family before making a decision.