'Secret talks' led to F1 ban, Briatore says

London: Former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore accused Formula One's governing body yesterday of secret negotiations before a "sham hearing" at which he was banned for life from the sport.

The Italian was barred in September for his role in a plot to rig last year's Singapore Grand Prix by having Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet crash deliberately so that team-mate Fernando Alonso could win the race.

Britain's Guardian newspaper reported on Thursday that Briatore would be seeking at least 1 million euros (Dh5.5 million) in damages at an appeal hearing in Paris on November 24, as well as demanding the punishment be overturned.

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) condemned the "selective leaking" of extracts from Briatore's case to the court but the Italian dismissed their objections.

In a statement issued on his behalf Friday, he said his action was a public one, there was nothing confidential in the documents and he had nothing to hide.