Briatore given lifelong F1 ban

Former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore has been handed an indefinite ban from motorsport in any form by the FIA over his role in the 'crashgate' scandal.

The Italian will not be allowed to participate in the sport in any form, including managing any teams or drivers.

The Renault team have been given a two-year suspended sentence, which means that unless a similar breach of F1 rules occurs before 2011 the team will escape punishment - with the exception of paying the costs of the governing body's investigation and making a 'significant contribution' to the FIA's work to improve safety.

Announcing the decision of the World Motor Sport Council disciplinary hearing, after the team held their hands up to causing a deliberate crash in the 2008 Singapore grand prix, the FIA also confirmed that former chief engineer Pat Symonds is suspended from F1 for a period of five years.

The WMSC described the offence as one of 'unparalleled severity', but said it had taken into account the swift actions of Renault in ensuring both Symonds and Briatore left the organisation when the extent of their actions came to light.

In relation to the ban for Briatore, the FIA said: 'In determining that such instructions should be applicable for an unlimited period, the World Motor Sport Council has had regard not only to the severity of the breach in which Mr Briatore was complicit but also to his actions in continuing to deny his participation in the breach despite all the evidence.'

Both the FIA and Renault investigated the incident involving Piquet and, according to the statement issued by the WMSC today, both parties came to the same conclusions.

The governing body stated that, by asking Piquet to purposely crash out of the race, the team endangered the lives of spectators and race officials.

The WMSC's statement continued: 'The World Motor Sport Council considers that offences of this severity merit permanent disqualification from the FIA formula one world championship.

'However, because Renault took it upon themselves to carry out an internal investigation and to ensure the resignation of both Briatore and Symonds, who admitted responsibility for the plot, the WMSC decided to be more lenient on the French manufacturer and suspended Renault F1's disqualification until the end of the 2011 season.

'The World Motor Sport Council will only activate this disqualification if Renault F1 is found guilty of a comparable breach during that time.'

The WMSC also said it had noted the team's sincere apology, as well as accepting offers to pay the costs of the FIA investigation and make a significant contribution to the FIA's safety work.

With regards to Briatore, the governing body handed the Italian a life-long ban for his part in the controversy.

'The World Motor Sport Council declares that, for an unlimited period, the FIA does not intend to sanction any international event, championship, cup, trophy, challenge or series involving Mr Briatore in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any team or other entity engaging Mr Briatore in any capacity whatsoever,' the FIA continued.

'It also hereby instructs all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr Briatore access to any areas under the FIA's jurisdiction.

'Furthermore, it does not intend to renew any Super Licence granted to any driver who is associated (through a management contract or otherwise) with Mr Briatore, or any entity or individual associated with Mr Briatore.'

Symonds - Briatore's partner in crime - was handed a five-year ban from any FIA-run series.

The governing body went on to thank Piquet and Fernando Alonso for their co-operation in the investigation – Piquet having been granted immunity from prosecution and Alonso having been found to have no involvement in the plot.