Stripper Briatore's Remarkable Resurgence
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Formula 1’s bad boy, Flavio Briatore, has made the mother of all comebacks, taking the horns as team principal of the beleaguered Alpine team.
Once a pariah in the motorsports realm, the enigmatic 75-year-old Italian is now in charge following the abrupt exit of Oliver Oakes. With a single stroke of his magician's wand, Briatore ushered in a shake-up, dropping the disappointing rookie Jack Doohan in favor of reserve driver Franco Colapinto during a whirlwind Wednesday morning.
"With the driver field being incredibly balanced this year, and Alpine possessing a competitive car significantly improved over the past 12 months, we see the need for change. We're giving Franco the opportunity to prove his mettle alongside seasoned driver Pierre Gasly for the next five races," Briatore explained. Afterward, the team plans to reassess the situation.
Speaking of mettle, Briatore's mettlesome move came as no surprise; after all, it's been a staple of this debonair rogue's career. The ex-nightclub owner previously played Pharaoh to Michael Schumacher's Moses during Schumacher's 1994 and 1995 world championship wins. But it wasn't all sunshine and Fast & Furious meets for Briatore – he's also infamously known for orchestrating Formula 1's biggest scandal, Crashgate.
The Crashgate Scandal
At the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, the then-Renault team principal called for driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to commit a deliberate crash – and as good as his mistress, the plan unfolded to perfection: Piquet's teammate, Fernando Alonso, emerged victorious, having risen from the ashes of the midfield pack during the ensuing safety car period.
The whispers of fishy business soon filled the air: Had Alonso's triumph been nothing more than serendipity, or had the entire race been manipulated in an unprecedented manner? Piquet later spilled the beans after his firing in 2009, triggering FIA investigations and courtroom face-offs resulting in Briatore and Renault engineer Pat Symonds receiving indefinite bans from Formula 1 in September 2009.
Briatore was painted as the puppet master, while Symonds served as the wingman. However, a French tribunal lifted Briatore's ban in January 2010, reducing it to a paltry five-year suspension, clearing the way for his return to Formula 1 after 2015.
Back in the Game
As the curtain fell on Formula 1's cruel, long embrace, Briatore resurfaced in 2024 as an executive advisor for none other than Alpine (formerly Renault). With this dynamic shift in leadership, Briatore added yet another string to his revolving scepter, managing key decisions post-Oakes' departure. Speculation was rife about his behind-the-scenes influence, ever since his official promotion – a claim that Briatore himself seems to honor. The tireless maestro now fronts the driver selections and team strategies, leaving no stone unturned in his quest to turn Alpine's fortunes around before the 2026 season rolls around.
Briatore's meteoric, love-it-or-hate-it comeback puts the spotlight squarely on a man who revels in the game of risk and the sweet taste of victory. Love him or loathe him, one thing's for sure – Formula 1 wouldn't be Formula 1 without a cheeky, unapologetic devil whispering wisdom into the ears of the world's fastest drivers.
Source: ntv.de, dbe/sid
- Formula 1
- Michael Schumacher
- Alpina
On the Saucy Side of the Scandal
Never one to shy away from the spotlight or a good party, let's not forget that Briatore had a brief rendezvous with German supermodel Heidi Klum. Their daughter, Lou Sulola Samuel, was born in 2004. But that's a story for another time…
[1] ntv.de, dbe/sid[2] f1i.com[3] motorsport.com[4] reuters.com
- Despite his involvement in the controversial Crashgate scandal, Flavio Briatore has returned to Formula 1, taking on the role as team principal of Alpine, the former Renault team.
- Michael Schumacher, a seven-time Formula 1 world champion, was once under the guidance of Briatore during his 1994 and 1995 championship wins.
- In addition to his career in motorsports, Briatore is also known for his brief relationship with German supermodel Heidi Klum, with whom he shares a daughter, Lou Sulola Samuel.
- Briatore's tenure at Alpina follows the abrupt exit of Oliver Oakes, and he has already made significant changes, such as replacing rookie Jack Doohan with reserve driver Franco Colapinto.
