Singapore, Sep 26 : Despite criticizing the World Motor Sport Council's verdict on former Renault team chief Flavio Briatore''s lifetime ban from motor racing, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has warned Briatore against challenging the verdict in civil courts as it would only make matters worse.

"It would be stupid of Flavio to do that. If he goes to a civil court the FIA would have to defend and somebody will say that he sent a young guy out to what could have been his death. It wouldn''t go down too well," The Mirror quoted Ecclestone, as saying.

"He''s not talking to me. He thinks I should have defended him, which I couldn''t," he added.

Earlier, Ecclestone had said that the World Motor Sport Council's verdict on Briatore was too harsh.

Briatore was banned indefinitely from all FIA-sanctioned events for his role in the fixing-scandal when driver Nelson Piquet Jnr was told to crash into a wall to bring out the safety car during last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

"I would have banned Flavio for one year. That would have been enough. But, I was on the Council, so, I am probably just as guilty as anyone else," Ecclestone said.

"On reflection it was not necessary. It was too much - definitely too much. If I were him, I'd appeal the ban. I'd go to the FIA court of appeal, and get it overturned," he added.

Ecclestone also said that Briatore's exit from Formula One would affect the championship.

"The sport needs colourful characters. Flav was one of those. Now we''''ve lost Ron Dennis and Flav. It''''s a great shame," Ecclestone said. (ANI)