Briatore to Sue the FIA Over Loss of Drivers

Flavio Briatore might have won his appeal over the FIA ban earlier this month, but the Italian manager still has some unfinished business with the international ruling body. According to the Daily Telegraph, the 59-year old Italian vowed to get back at the FIA for loss of income, as a result of several drivers leaving his company and changing manager following the crash-gate.

Needless to say, once Briatore was found guilty of race fixing in Formula One, the majority of the drivers who used to be championed by the Italian chose to leave him and search for new management. Such are the cases of Fernando Alonso (although he remained good friend with Briatore), Lucas di Grassi and Heikki Kovalainen.

“We lost Alonso, we lost Kovalainen, we lost several drivers. We will sue the FIA for the money we lost,” said Briatore, according to the aforementioned source.

In a recent media release, the ruling body announced that it will issue superlicenses for any driver applying for one, even if managed by Briatore. However, it appears there are none left, at least as far as Formula One goes.

In addition, Briatore confirmed that Formula One is no longer part of his plans for the future, as his only concern was to clear his image after 20 years of F1 management. Most recently, the Italian has been linked with a presidential role within the Serie A football club Juventus Turin.

“I will never manage another team in formula one in my life, this is sure, but I have got my dignity back which is important after 20 years in the sport,” had said the Italian to Daily Mirror, shortly after the verdict of the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance was announced earlier this month.