Ecclestone urges Briatore to appeal life ban

SINGAPORE — Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone urged Renault team principal Flavio Briatore to appeal his life ban from Formula One for organizing Nelson Piquet Jr.’s crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

F1 returns to Singapore this weekend for the first time since the crash, which was designed to help Renault driver Fernando Alonso win the 2008 race, and Briatore received support Thursday from F1’s most powerful man.

“In my opinion, it was quite harsh on Flavio,” Ecclestone said of the life ban imposed earlier this week. “I don’t think it was necessary, but I was on the commission (that decided the penalty), so I am probably just as guilty as anyone else.”

Ecclestone is a friend and business partner of Briatore, with a stake in English soccer club Queens Park Rangers.

The 78-year-old Ecclestone, who controls F1 management, said Briatore should appeal his case through governing body FIA, but would probably not fare well if he chose to take it to civilian courts.

“He should ask to be heard by the court of appeal,” Ecclestone said. “He should appeal to the FIA.

“If he goes to a civil court … somebody will say that he sent a young guy out to what could have been to his death. It wouldn’t go down too well.”

Renault’s two-time world champion Alonso was cleared of any involvement in the scandal, but the team’s chances of holding on to the Spaniard appeared even slimmer, with Ferrari seen as his likely destination.

While he has not signed any contract for 2010, Alonso said Thursday that “my mind is made up” about where he will drive in 2010.

Piquet Jr. escaped any punishment for his role in the scandal because he acted as a whistle blower by making it public.

However, the Brazilian’s chances of returning to F1 look slim, getting little support from fellow drivers. The drivers were expected to have their regular pre-race meeting on Friday.

Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella confirmed the Piquet Jr. matter would be discussed.

Jenson Button was asked Thursday what he thought of Piquet Jr., who was fired by Renault for poor performance before the scandal went public.

“I don’t know if you can have too much sympathy for a driver who crashes on purpose,” Button said.

BMW driver Robert Kubica was surprised Piquet Jr. was granted immunity after deliberately crashing — an act that endangered other drivers, fans and marshalls.

“Normally, if you go the police and you say you killed someone but you know someone else who killed three people, you will still go to jail,” Kubica said.

Red Bull driver Mark Webber said F1 could ill afford another blow to its reputation with jaded fans.

“I’m running out of patience sticking up for the sport and I am sure other people are as well,” Webber said. “He got himself into a situation that of course he regrets. That’s what he did and what he has to live with and its very difficult for him to come back.”

Williams’ Nico Rosberg is eager for the upcoming race to redirect the discussion.

“We have this everywhere in life, in business, sport,” Rosberg said. “There are always going to be individuals who do something illegal. It’s a matter of getting them out of the way, which has been done.

“Its been a negative thing for the sport, but now we will have a great race weekend, we will have a superb race, great action on the track and everything will be a thing of the past.”