Briatore exit surprises Ecclestone

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone expressed his sadness at close friend Flavio Briatore's sensational exit from the sport.

Ecclestone's comments are unsurprising given the bond forged over the years between himself and Briatore, who first stepped into F1 in 1988.

Twenty one years later and Briatore's relationship with the sport is at an end as he left his position as team principal with Renault, along with his number two, Pat Symonds, their executive director of engineering yesterday.

Briatore asserted on Friday, during the course of the Italian Grand Prix weekend, there was no wrongdoing, and that he, the lawyers and Renault were confident of success in their case.

But the subsequent departure of Briatore and Symonds now raises new questions regarding the incidents that unfolded on September 28 of last year.

"Obviously, I'm surprised at what has happened, and I'm taken by surprise today that they've decided to walk away."