Were I the president of the FIA, I can say for sure I'd want a team principal who was proven to demand that one of his driver's crash to be sent to hell or even a bit further. Though upon regarding the FIA's World Motor Sport Council's documentation of a recent example of such a case, I find myself more than a little miffed about what constitutes proven in the eyes of the FIA or at lest those to whom the FIA answers. But I can also say for sure that I'd never, ever let a driver who crashes on command race again. And I'd most certainly not give such a driver immunity against prosecution.

For those who don't know, that annoying "gate" thing which so regularly creeps into headlines pays homage to the 1970s political scandal known as Watergate. Watergate cost a president his job which is a little ironic since F1's "gate" scandals have only cost the careers of team principals and the odd, sundry team member. A president, the FIA one, had his moment in the headlines and not a "gate" was to be found.

Interesting what fear and exclusion from FIA passes can achieve. I don't have one and neither does anyone else at Pitpass so we get to talk about such things.

Before I type another word, I am compelled to spare a thought for the most senior of Crashgate's casualties. I choose to do so because I have not read too many F1 Obits for Flavio Briatore. Or maybe I just like hate mail?

It has been made clear elsewhere on Pitpass that there are those who are happy to see the back of the bloke. I do not count myself among them - nor does editor Balfe so I understand - though I doubt either of us are likely to refer to ourselves as fans of the man either.

I find it easy to understand the anti Flav camp. He can come across as a bit "flash as a rat with a gold tooth". Cashed up, brash, glitzy, flamboyant vocal and not at all educated at the right schools. These are traits that do not sit well with many who are influential. Briatore didn't do a lot to portray himself as a motorsport purist either. He's first and foremost a businessman. What a dreadful crime in F1! Heaven forbid F1 fall into the hands of businessmen, or worse yet, the governing body, the FIA , sign over its commercial rights for a century!

Then there are those who cite the way Flav conducted his pre-F1 business dealings as reason for their dislike of him. Having read a number of tomes authored by Pitpass legend Mike Lawrence, I am aware that such dealings among F1 luminaries past and present are far from abnormal. But I suspect roguish deals by people bereft of money are wont to be regarded as the acts of likeable scallywags while the same behaviour enacted by a moneyed individual is scurrilous.

On the other side of the ledger, it must be acknowledged that Flavio took on a lacking Benetton team and that resulted in two driver's world championships, though I'm sure Schumacher-haters will see this as a failing rather than an accolade and start bleating about cheating all over again. Flav later returned to the same team under a new name after it had languished for some time and two more driver titles were forthcoming.

Most of all my soft spot for Flavio stems from his being among the few inside the sport to champion against the vast amount of cash thrown at technical advancements in F1. He often highlighted that the entertainment factor of the racing was waning and that unless this was addressed the sport was in real trouble.