Jan.7 (GMM) F1's governing body is reportedly considering a fresh attempt to sanction Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds, after the crashgate conspirators this week won their French legal action.
The Guardian newspaper said the FIA, now controlled by Jean Todt rather than Briatore nemesis Max Mosley, is determined the former Renault pair be not allowed to return to the paddock for staging a crash with Nelson Piquet at the 2008 Singapore grand prix.The FIA said: "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."Former president Mosley told the Times that the FIA could "very quickly" give itself the power, by amending the sporting regulations, to prevent those who have broken the sport's rules or acted dangerously from working in F1.The fallout of the crashgate scandal may also be Todt's first opportunity to put to work his plans for a new disciplinary procedure, particularly after the processes of the World Motor Sport Council were criticised heavily by Paris' Tribunal de Grande Instance.Bernie Ecclestone, however, warns against letting the scandal run."That's the worst thing," the F1 chief executive, who is a personal friend of Briatore and also a business partner, told the Sun."It would be better if they all get round a table and see what they can do," he added.But Mosley, whose acrimonious history with Briatore was noted in the court ruling this week, said sanctioning the Italian and Symonds is central to the FIA's credibility."The idea that we might say (of their actions), 'Oh, it's all right' would be unthinkable," he said.At the same time, Mosley, 69, denied that his weighing into the affair in the wake of his FIA presidency demonstrates that he is still involved even in the new Todt era."I speak to Todt from time to time but only on a friendly basis and also Bernie from time to time. But I'm very much retired and enjoying it and I don't want to get involved," added the Briton.Mosley also said he would advise Briatore against following through his threat to sue the Piquet family."I expect there will be a counter-suit which would make his eyes water," he warned.
