Disgraced team boss Flavio Briatore has had his life ban from FIA motorsport overturned today when a French Court ruled that the FIA’s punishment was illegal.

Briatore was given a lifetime ban from FIA motorsport when he ordered Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash on purpose to aid the team’s other driver Fernando Alonso, in a scandal which came to be known as Crashgate and what was dubbed by some as ‘The worst act of cheating in the history of sport’.

Despite wanting €1millon, he was awarded just €15,000 in compensation.

Briatore’s lawyer Philippe Ouakrat said:

“It is almost exactly what we had asked for, this is obviously an exceptional outcome for Mr Briatore.

“Mr Briatore wanted to be free to do what he wants and he did not want to be imposed an outrageous sanction taken in his absence and without being able to defend himself.”

The FIA’s lawyer Jean-Francois Prat said the FIA would “very likely” appeal the decision.

The FIA have since given their view on the verdict in a press release. It reads:

The FIA notes the Decision of the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris in relation to Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds.

The Court has rejected the claims for damages made by Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds and their claim for an annulment of the FIA’s decision.  In particular, the Court did not examine the facts and has not reversed the FIA’s finding that both Briatore and Symonds conspired to cause an intentional crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

However, the Court did question the FIA’s authority to impose bans upon Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds for procedural reasons and because they are not FIA licence holders and, according to the Court, are therefore not subject to any FIA rules. The FIA’s ability to exclude those who intentionally put others’ lives at risk has never before been put into doubt and the FIA is carefully considering its appeal options on this point.

The Court’s decision is not enforceable until the FIA’s appeal options have been exhausted.  Until then, the World Motor Sport Council’s decision continues to apply.

In addition, 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.