The FIA has condemned the leaking of documents from Flavio Briatore's legal case against Formula 1's ruling body.
Britain's The Guardian newspaper reports that Briatore accused former FIA president Max Mosley of being "clearly blinded by an excessive desire for personal revenge." The former Renault boss was banned from Formula 1 for life after he was found guilty of taking part in a race-fixing plot during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
The Italian is suing the FIA and asking for a total annulment of the ban. According to The Guardian, Briatore is also demanding 1 million euros ($1.5m) in compensation for damages to his image. The governing body on Thursday criticized the leaking of documents to the press and denied the accusations made in them.
"The FIA condemns the selective leaking of extracts from Mr. Briatore's pleadings to the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris," said the FIA in a statement."The FIA rejects the allegations made in these leaks and confirms that the decision to impose a sanction against Mr. Briatore was made by an overwhelming majority of the attending World Motor Sport Council members.
"In respect for the authority of the French Court, it would be entirely inappropriate for the FIA to comment further on this matter in advance of the hearing."
The case will be heard on Nov. 24 in Paris.