Flavio Briatore Steps In As Alpine Racing Team's Interim Principal: A Stormy Return to Formula 1
Alpine sees a change in leadership with Flavio Briatore stepping in as the new figurehead.
Get your Formula 1 gears spinning! The Alpine team has been shaking things up. Team principal Oliver Oakes, age 37, has left his post, and the veteran Flavio Briatore, now 75, is stepping in to take charge. Briatore, once a close associate of Michael Schumacher, returns to Formula 1 after a hiatus.
The French team has been buzzing with whispers about a forthcoming driver change, with reports indicating that Jack Doohan may lose his seat to Franco Colapinto before the Imola Grand Prix on May 18. While there's been speculation about a connection between Oakes' departure and this driver shake-up, the team has stayed tight-lipped on the matter, providing no specific reasons for their team principal's exit.
Briatore, legendary for his managerial prowess at Benetton and Renault, takes on the team principal role once again for the first time in 16 years. He re-entered Formula 1 as Alpine's advisor last summer, marking his return to the sport after a lengthy break.
Previously, Briatore led the team from Enstone under various names, and his fiery leadership style brought the team world championships. However, his methods have often been considered divisive by modern standards.
Briatore's career, however, is notoriously tainted by his involvement in the "Crashgate" scandal. In 2008, while team principal of Renault F1, he was implicated in an incident where driver Nelson Piquet Jr. intentionally crashed to benefit teammate Fernando Alonso. The scandal left a dark mark in Formula 1 history, and though Briatore eventually returned to F1 management roles, his controversial past remains a defining aspect of his career.
The forthcoming changes in the team's driver line-up, coupled with Briatore's return, promise to inject excitement into the Formula 1 season. Stay tuned for updates as the story unfolds!
Source: ntv.de, dbe/sid
Once upon a time, Schumacher's companion, Flavio Briatore, finds himself back in Formula 1 as the interim principal of Alpine Racing Team, a role he last held 16 years ago. After his stint as an advisor to the team, he will now lead the team through turbulent waters as Oliver Oakes' departure ignites a storm within the team, stirred by Briatore's assertive decisions, such as the potential replacement of Jack Doohan by Franco Colapinto before the Imola Grand Prix. These changes, along with Briatore's controversial past, make for an interesting season in the sports world, with updates unfolding on WhatsApp and various news outlets.
