Briatore’s lifetime ban for fixing Formula One race lifted

LONDON - Former Renault boss Flavio Briatore, who was banned from Formula One for fixing the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, has had his lifetime ban lifted, plunging the sport into chaos.

The Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris ruled that the Italian’s ban for fixing was illegal.

But Briatore’s friend and grand prix supremo Bernie Ecclestone said that Briatore will not attempt a comeback, and warned the Crashgate scandal is not over yet.

Team chief Briatore had ordered Nelson Piquet Jnr to crash to help fellow Renault driver Fernando Alonso win the race, The Sun reports.

Ecclestone, a member of the World Council, which banned Briatore, said: “It’s not over by a long way. Just because a bloody judge has said what he’s said doesn’t make any difference.

“The court said it was wrong, so the FIA can start all over again and it will go on and on,’ he said.

Briatore, 59, is manager to double world champ Alonso, now at Ferrari, and Red Bull’s Mark Webber.

The decision means he is free to continue in his role as co-owner of Championship outfit QPR with Ecclestone.

Brazilian Piquet blew the whistle on the scandal after being sacked last July for poor results.

He revealed Briatore and technical director Pat Symonds ordered him to crash, forcing the safety car on, which helped Alonso win as his rivals had to pit. (ANI)