Share this article on LinkedIn Email

Former Formula 1 driver Philippe Streiff has apologised to FIA president Jean Todt and medical chief Gerard Saillant over comments he made on French radio.

Todt and Saillant began legal action against Streiff over comments Streiff had made about the investigation into Jules Bianchi's Japanese Grand Prix crash.

Streiff had suggested that the FIA had deliberately appointed a panel of its allies to look into the circumstances of the accident to ensure it was absolved of any blame for what happened at Suzuka.

Those accusations infuriated FIA chiefs and, just 24 hours after the threat of legal action was made, Streiff has said sorry.

In a statement issued on behalf of the the governing body, Streiff said: "I let myself get carried away in front of the camera.

"The interview took a long time - too long - and I am aware that I made insulting and defamatory comments about Jean Todt, Gerard Saillant and the FIA, which I sincerely regret.

"I refute and take back these accusations, which are unfounded, and ask the press to remove them from their media.

"Lastly, I ask Jean Todt and Gerard Saillant, who are well aware of my health problems, to excuse me.

"I regret having said things about them that are totally out of line with the consideration that they both deserve."