The Council decided that Briatore and Symonds, along with driver Nelson Piquet, had acted in isolation in planning the lap 14 'accident', which helped vault team leader Fernando Alonso to the front of the field.
Briatore has been given an indefinite ban from FIA-backed motorsport, with the governing body deciding that for an ‘unlimited period it will not sanction any event, championship, cup, trophy, challenge or series which involves him. The FIA will also refuse to grant a licence to any team, driver or entity that is engaged with him.
Explaining the Council's decision, a statement released by the FIA said: “In determining that such instructions should be applicable for an unlimited period, the World Motor Sport Council has had regard not only to the severity of the breach in which Mr. Briatore was complicit but also to his actions in continuing to deny his participation in the breach despite all the evidence.”
Symonds, meanwhile, received a similar ban, but limited to five years, with the Council adding in their statement that the decision was made with “regard to: (i) to Mr. Symonds acceptance that he took part in the conspiracy; and (ii) to his communication to the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council that it was to his ‘eternal regret and shame that he participated in the conspiracy.”
Symonds and Briatore left the Renault team last week ahead of Monday's hearing. Piquet, who was dropped in July, did not face sanction after volunteering his evidence.
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