Flavio Briatore

An investigation in Genoa involving tax-administration officials raised a possible corruption scheme linked to favourable tax treatment in the Force Blue case. Briatore was investigated. In 2023, prosecutors closed the allegation against him, finding no reasonable prospect of conviction under the applicable procedural standard.

Attribution

Directly implicated

The yacht Force Blue was seized in 2010 during an investigation involving VAT and fuel, among other matters. Briatore faced several adverse decisions before Italy's Court of Cassation overturned the convictions and he was ultimately acquitted in January 2022, the judgment finding that the conduct did not constitute a criminal offence. The confiscation was revoked.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

In the so-called 'Crashgate' affair, involving Nelson Piquet Jr's deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, the FIA banned Briatore from motor sport for life in 2009. In January 2010, a French court overturned the sanction, notably on jurisdictional and procedural grounds. A subsequent agreement with the FIA ended the dispute and enabled his return from 2013.

State of the evidence

Settlement

Attribution

Directly implicated

During the 1994 season, analysis of the Benetton B194's software revealed a launch-control system concealed under 'Option 13'. However, the FIA stated that it had no evidence that the system had been used during the Grand Prix in question. Briatore managed the team, but no evidence establishes that he personally activated the system.

Following the fire involving Jos Verstappen's Benetton during refuelling at the 1994 German Grand Prix, it emerged that the fuel-system filter had been removed, increasing the flow rate. The incident fuelled allegations of technical rule circumvention against the team managed by Briatore.

Attribution

Directly implicated

In the 1980s, Flavio Briatore was convicted in two Italian proceedings involving fraud and rigged gambling games. The sentences were reduced on appeal and the convictions were subsequently extinguished by an amnesty. Briatore himself publicly confirmed a fraud conviction, the amnesty and his subsequent rehabilitation.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Directly implicated