Settlement by FIA & Briatore/Symonds...

[markb]

Courtesy of Facebook Post by NB555 // Motorsport.com

Settlement ends 'crashgate' scandal
Racing series      F1
Date    2010-04-12

By Motorsport.com/GMM

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The so-called 'crashgate' scandal is finally over.

F1's governing body on Monday announced that, after talks with Singapore race-fixing conspirators Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds, a settlement has been reached.

Briatore and Symonds were banned from motor racing by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council for ordering Nelson Piquet Jr to crash during the 2008 Singapore GP, but the former Renault chiefs won an appeal against the decision in the French courts.

The FIA's appeal against that decision was pending.

But it was announced on Monday that the duo have now "expressed their regrets and presented their apologies to the FIA".

In return, the Paris-based Federation has dropped its legal action, and Briatore and Symonds have agreed to "abstain from having any operational role in Formula One until 31 December 2012". 

[Scott]

I remember someone else having a problem with GMM as a reliable source ( I think it was Steven Roy - where is he anyhow??), but if this is true, it is a massive about-face for the FIA. 

Not allowing operational roles means that Symonds can start work tomorrow as a consultant with any team that will have him, and since we suspect Flavio is interested in the FOM side of the action, he can also start tomorrow.

I guess the WMSC really made a mess of their hearing to have it end this way.
 

[FW14B]

I agree, this puts the WMSC decision in an even poorer light and also the way they act in general. 

I wonder how long before they make some form of comeback like you say Scott?  I can think of a few teams that could use Symmonds on a consultant basis!

[John S]

This at least explains what the other articles about Briatore's return in 2012 were all about. Flav knew this was about to be announced, but just had to wind everyone up a bit.

[Chris Borg]

Sorry guys....Did not realise that this subject had already been posted.


http://pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=40484

[Alianora La Canta]

Given that the likes of Joe Saward are reporting this, I think it's true. The FIA is lucky to have got this much of a ban imposed given that the French court told it that its previous procedure was in breach of Article 28 of the FIA's own Statutes (and therefore invalid).

I think this has been done so that the FIA can save face and pretend that its behaviour was better than it was.

[cosworth151]

One can only hope that by 31 December 2012, Blabbio will have moved on to a sport more in tune with his "talents."

The WWE would be perfect.

[markb]

Or, perhaps emigrating to the moon would also be a good move

[Scott]

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/14340.html


Gee, I think I said that.