“Je regrette” says Streiff as he apologises to Todt

Philippe Steiff has acted quickly to fend off legal action from the FIA, Jean Todt and Gerard Saillant by apologising for comments he made about them in a web TV interview.

The former F1 driver had in essence questioned both the findings and composition of the FIA Accident Panel that investigated the Jules Bianchi accident.

After legal action was promised by the FIA yesterday he used Facebook to make an apology.

He 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, Gérard 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 Gérard 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.”