Distraught Briatore considers legal action

Reports said he was planning to bring legal action against the FIA in the Paris courts to try to prove his innocence and win compensation for the damage to his image. Briatore left Renault last week along with engineering head Pat Symonds,who was banned for five years Monday. Former world champions Renault did not contest the accusations and were handed a suspended permanent ban that will last until the end of the 2011 season.

Renaults double world champion Fernando Alonso,who won the Singapore race after Piquet’s crash,was cleared of any involvement. Brazils Piquet was given immunity from prosecution in return for testifying. Carlos Gracia,head of the Spanish motor sport federation and a member of the FIAs world motor sport council,was also shocked by the life ban.

Briatores (penalty) seems to me excessive,there was no clear proof against him and he was not able to defend himself either, he told Spanish sports newspaper website http://www.as.com. Moreover,I wouldnt rule out him going to ordinary justice because he has been left without his means of earning a living.

Briatore,a business partner of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and leading figure in the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA),did not attend Mondays Paris hearing. He is banned from all F1 activities meaning he can no longer manage Piquet,Alonso and other drivers such as Red Bulls Australian Mark Webber.

Media in Italy said he might now consider setting up a rival series to Formula One. Better as a businessman than on the pit wall,Briatore was among those planning a breakaway series when teams clashed with the FIA earlier this year and he has long said F1 has become too boring.