Formula One news

Briatore: Spy scandal involves me

Flavio Briatore says he is keeping a close eye on how the spy scandal develops and will attend the appeal court hearing. Although the Ferrari-McLaren saga does not involve Renault directly, the team principal feels it is damaging to the sport's reputation such is its dominance in the media.

"We already had somebody in Paris last time (for the orginial hearing on 26 July)," Briatore told a press conference.

Although it would seem logical that Renault might support a penalty against McLaren given that the team is behind the Woking-based oufit in the standings, Briatore is not siding with Ferrari. Instead he claims that he has the sport's best interests at heart.

"I am in Formula One like McLaren and Ferrari," he explained. "This issue about this story involves everybody sooner or later and I want to know exactly what is going on because I think it is part of our job. If you see the newspapers in the last two months we are not talking about which drivers won the race, lost the race…

"The spy story, if you want, was predominating everything and because we are part of this business we demand to know exactly what is going on because it is probably damaging everybody a little bit including me, including everybody. Stuff like this is not good for the sponsors, it is not good for anybody. We hope we find a final step and we hope something happens. I think that is the way we stop talking about that."

On the other hand Christian Horner, who is team principal of Renault-powered Red Bull Racing, believes it is better to trust in the FIA's handling of the matter and keep out of it.

"The matter doesn't concern our team or any employees of our team and we trust in the governing body to make the right decisions," he said.

more news

• 06 Sep.
  • Ferrari plot fight for victory from second
  • Alonso sets Renault up in sixth
  • Heidfeld leads BMW qualifying charge
  • Force India happy with pace
  • Worst qualifying for Toyota
  • Webber gives Red Bull hope
  • Williams struggles in qualifying
  • Dismal day sees both Hondas out in Q1
  • Both Toro Rossos back in top ten
  • Hamilton gushing with confidence on pole
  • Massa's perfect lap not enough
  • Kovalainen lost out in middle sector
  • Hamilton storms to Belgian pole
  • Spa-Francorchamps to rename Stavelot corner
  • Heidfeld tops final practice session
  • Photos: Saturday at Spa-Francorchamps
  • Donington Park submit first phase plans
• 05 Sep.
  • McLaren pleased with first day
  • Raikkonen crash hinders Ferrari preparations
  • Renault lifted by Alonso's pace
  • BMWs struggle on Friday
  • Toyota looking for more pace
  • Force India happy with practice
  • Toro Rossos going well at Spa
  • New parts working well for Williams
  • Honda struggling at Spa
  • Mixed day for Red Bull
  • Alonso tops second practice
  • McLaren to open office in US
  • Massa tops first free practice at Spa
  • Photos: Friday at Spa-Francorchamps
  • Vettel to test Red Bull this month
• 04 Sep.
  • Massa eyes up vital six final races
  • Raikkonen hopes for dry weekend
  • Photos: Thursday at Spa-Francorchamps
  • Coulthard: The engines make the difference
• 03 Sep.
  • Bridgestone going hard on Spa
  • Former Albers manager teams up with Doornbos
  • Massa: Beating Raikkonen will be difficult at Spa
  • Belgian Grand Prix technical preview

Homepage