FIA: no action over Briatore remarks

The FIA has decided that there is no need to take action against Flavio Briatore over the controversial comments he made after the Italian Grand Prix, autosport.com has learned

The sport's governing body launched an investigation into remarks Briatore told Italian television at Monza, in which he compared what was happening in Formula One to 'calciopoli' - the Italian football scandal.

On the back of other remarks claiming the title chase was being 'manipulated' after the mass damper affair and Fernando Alonso's Monza qualifying penalty, there were suggestions that Briatore could face charges of bringing the sport into disrepute.

However, autosport.com has learned that following a statement issued by Briatore claiming that his comments had been said as a joke, and then an interview he did the week after Monza to express his full faith in the governance of the sport, the matter has now had a line drawn underneath it.

It is understood that it was the combination of the clarification and the interview that resulted in the FIA deciding not to pursue the matter any more.

FIA president Max Mosley told this week's Autosprint that it was important for the FIA to take into account the fact that remarks made by Briatore and Fernando Alonso were said in the heat of the moment.

"Both let their emotions get to them," said Mosley. "In the heat of the moment they said some impulsive stuff. Considering the circumstances, sometimes you need to be tolerant."

He said: "I think on some occasions Flavio spoke in an over-excited manner. But, to be fair with him, he subsequently and promptly corrected his quotes.

"The FIA can punish only if the quotes damage the image of the sport, and I don't think it happened in this case."