Flavio Briatore claims his life ban from motorsport was a result of secret talks held the night before the hearing into Crashgate.

The former Renault boss was punished by the World Motor Sport Council for ordering his driver Nelson Piquet Jr to deliberately crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to help team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race.

Briatore claims, though, that the life ban had been determined before he faced the Council on 21 September. He said today: "It was the result of secret negotiations on the eve of the so-called hearing in front of the World Motor Sport Council, behind which the FIA is now trying to hide."

Briatore has appealed to the French High Court for the ban to be overturned and he is also suing the FIA for £900,000 in compensation.

The FIA yesterday denied Briatore's claim that the ban was given because former president Max Mosley wanted revenge.