25 Sep 2009

Ecclestone says Briatore's lifetime ban too harsh

1:37 pm on 25 September 2009

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone says the lifetime ban meted out to Renault team principal Flavio Briatore is too harsh.

However Ecclestone made clear his friend should have owned up before the hearing this week into Nelson Piquet junior's deliberate crash at the Singapore Grand Prix last year.

Meanwhile the Australian driver Mark Webber says he will manage his career himself if he can no longer work with the banned Briatore.

Renault's title sponsor, the Dutch financial group ING and the Spanish insurer Mutua Madrilena have withdrawn their sponsorship following the race-fixing scandal.

Meanwhile Formula One is back in Singapore this weekend for their Grand Prix.