FIA handed out F1 lifetime ban after incident that shocked the sport to its very core

The FIA took extreme measures when it handed a lifetime ban to a renowned team principal after an incident that shocked the Formula One world.

F1 has come a long way since its inception and a lot of advancements have been introduced to avoid serious accidents during races.

However, one issue that remains prevalant in the sport is the concept of a number one and number two; especially as one (or both) get closer to winning a championship.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are in such a situation in the 2025 season with McLaren, with the team open about allowing them to compete with each other for wins.

But in 2008, a shocking incident in the sport left F1 fans stunned and one individual banned for life from the sport.

Flavio Briatore is the new de facto principal at Alpine [Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images]

Back then, Renault had two great drivers in two-time Championship driver Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr.

At the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Piquet Jr. crashed his car, giving Alonso - who had taken an early pit stop - an advantage. It saw the Spaniard eventually winning the race after starting 15th on the grid.

However, a year later, Piquet Jr. confirmed that he deliberately crashed the car as his team had instructed him to do so to give Alonso the advantage.

This saw an FIA investigation open up and some tough measures were taken on the Renault team.

Alonso and Briatore in 2022 (Arnold Jerocki - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

Why did the FIA hand out a lifetime ban to Briatore?

At that time, Flavio Briatore was the managing director of the Renault team, while Pat Symonds served as the executive director of engineering.

Following the investigation, Renault were charged with conspiracy. They were given time to respond but they did not that.

It was announced that Briatore and Symonds both left the team.

F1 took the decision to hand Briatore a lifetime ban from all FIA sanctioned events, whilst Symonds was handed a five year ban.

They also disqualified Renault, but the disqualification was suspended for two years pending further rule infringements.

Briatore appeals his ban - and wins

Briatore was a big name in F1 and he decided to challenge the ban imposed on him by FIA in a French court.

He sued the FIA and demanded and compensation of €1 million. The court decided to rule in favour of Briatore and his ban was overturned.

He was given a compensation of €15,000, but the FIA decided to appeal the decision of the court.

Eventually, the two parties settled the matter and it was decided that both Briatore and Symonds would remain out of FIA events until at least 2013.

Briatore now works for Alpine F1 (MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images)

Did Briatore return to F1? What is he doing now?

Briatore's return to F1 took a long time to happen, but finally in 2024 he returned to Team Enstone to serve as the executive adviser of Alpine F1.

However, in 2025 following the resignation of Alpine's team president Oliver Oakes, Briatore has become the de facto boss.

Briatore is not the official team principal as he does not hold the required license and is only temporarily overseeing the responsibilities.

Alpine are currently 10th in the constructors table, but Briatore's previous experience of having overseen three World Constructors Championship should help them massively.