Briatore says he will never return to F1

Posted at 12:00am on 12 March 2010

MILAN, March 12 (Reuters) - Flavio Briatore has said he will never return to Formula One despite having a life ban overturned. The former Renault boss was banned by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in September after allegations that he helped to fix the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix but a Paris court threw out the sanction in January.

"I exclude it 100 percent," the Italian told Friday's Gazzetta dello Sport when asked if he had a future in Formula One and if he would buy a team.

"I still have affection for F1 even if it would have been better to have left at the end of 2006 when (then Renault driver Fernando) Alonso won his second title." Briatore, who said he expected an FIA appeal against the suspension of his ban to be heard in a few months, wished former protege Michael Schumacher well on his return to the sport but added that he was sceptical about greats making comebacks.

The 59-year-old Briatore also stepped down last month as chairman of English second division soccer club Queen's Park Rangers, although he remains a shareholder.

"I did it so I didn't create embarrassment for the Football Association given the Singapore story," he said, adding that he had no plans to return to soccer after media speculation that he was interested in Italy's Juventus. (Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Clare Fallon; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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