Ecclestone Feels Sorry for Briatore

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is surely not pleased with the way the crash-gate ended up – although the WMSC hearing is to take place next week, things look pretty obvious now – especially since his long-time friend Flavio Briatore seems everything but innocent in the race-fixing scandal.

Yesterday afternoon, Renault issued a statement in which they announced two important actions. The first if the fact that the French manufacturer will not dispute the FIA charges on race-fixing – a more elegant way to actually admit their wrongdoings – and the second was that Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds have left the Enstone based team.

The latter can be interpreted in two ways. Either the two left the team because of a sentiment of guilt, or because they wanted to delimit themselves from the Renault standpoint on the matter. Either way, Ecclestone believes these are some hard times Briatore is experiencing in Formula One and can't do nothing but admit his compassion for his Italian friend.

“Well, I feel sorry for him actually. Obviously, I'm surprised at what has happened, and I'm taken by surprise today that they've decided to walk away,” admitted the 78-year old Englishman to Press Association Sport.

The two are also business partners outside of Formula One. Ecclestone and Briatore are co-owning London football club Queens Park Rangers, but the latest F1 scandal might force the FA officials to exclude the Italian from the English football one way or the other.

As for the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) meeting on September 21st, Ecclestone – who is also a member of the commission – did not want to make any comments.

“I've no idea what will happen. We'll have to wait and see. To be honest with you, I don't want to make any comments about the World Council,” added the F1 boss.