Flavio Briatore is a massive name in Formula 1 and is credited for bringing several legends into the sport. Although he has produced massive highs in the 1990s and 2000s, he is also well known for disgracing the sport through race fixing. This has tarnished what could have been a great legacy for him in F1.
Briatore was given a lifetime ban in Formula 1 but it was subsequently overturned. He returned to the paddock in 2024 with Alpine, a new guise to the team he won so much with. Let’s take a look at the controversial Italian and his contributions to F1.
Flavio Briatore before F1
Before stepping into the F1 limelight, Braitore was already a controversial figure. He had multiple fraud convictions in the 1980s, but all of them were quashed with amnesty. However, it was in the 1980s when Flavio worked as a stock broker where he met Luciano Benetton.
Briatore helped open over 800 Benetton stores and soon became the director of Benetton’s American operations. After leaving the company, Luciano had another proposal for the Italian. Briatore accepted and became the manager of Benetton’s F1 team in 1990.
Flavio Briatore wins championships with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso
Michael Schumacher, following an impressive debut with Jordan during the 1991 Belgium Grand Prix, was swiftly signed by Briatore. It didn’t take long for Schumacher to prove his worth as he secured two championships in 1994 and 1995.
Williams, McLaren and Ferrari had dominated the constructors’ championship over the previous 20 years before the 1995 season. However, Briatore crashed the party as Benetton finally broke the chain to win convincingly. That made parties interested in Briatore high with Ferrari looking to sign the Italian. He rejected, but as Benetton stopped competing, he left his post in 1997.
#TBT 13 November 1994, Adelaide – Michael Schumacher becomes World Champion with Benetton #KeepFightingMichael pic.twitter.com/E3wmjoI7px
— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) November 13, 2014
Briatore soon returned to the team, now named Renault, in 2001. Flavio made a gamble replacing the competitive Jenson Button with Spanish youngster Fernando Alonso in 2003. And the rest is history. The move was seen as controversial at the time as Alonso had only competed in one season. However, Fernando proved doubters wrong by winning his first race that season.
Renault soon had a car fast enough to challenge Ferrari and McLaren. With Ferrari having an off season in 2005, Renault capitalised and Alonso won his first championship. Renault also won its first constructors’ title since 1995. The 2006 season was a hard-fought battle as Ferrari returned to the front. Under his management, Briatore ensured Alonso retained his title but the team couldn’t hold onto the constructors’ championship.
Alonso decided to leave for McLaren in 2007 and his decision looked to be the right one. Renault lost competitiveness and McLaren’s car was the best on the grid. However, after one season and the fallout of spygate, Alonso rejoined Renault, a team just a shadow of its former self. The 2008 season was the beginning of the end for Flavio Briatore.
Crashgate ends Flavio Briatore in F1
After a difficult 2007 season and Renault fairing no better in 2008, Fernando Alonso shocked the F1 world by winning the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix in fortuitous circumstances. His teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed just as Alonso was due for his first stop. This propelled the Spaniard to the front of the field and he won the race.
However, after being axed from the team, Piquet alleged he had crashed deliberately under the direction of Briatore and chief engineer Pat Symonds. This was to give Alonso a significant advantage under the safety car as the two-time world champion had qualified poorly.
Following an investigation by the FIA, Briatore was found guilty of race fixing. The team principal was given a lifetime ban from the sport. This impacted his football endeavour too. He was part owner of English club Queens Park Rangers. The Football League tried to force him out in the aftermath of crashgate and Flavio departed the club.
BWT Alpine F1 Team announces Flavio Briatore as Executive Advisor
BWT Alpine F1 Team can confirm that Flavio Briatore has been appointed by Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo as his Executive Advisor for the Formula One Division. pic.twitter.com/KAdNVkQBPP
— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) June 21, 2024
However, on appeal in 2013, Briatore’s lifetime ban was lifted. He is currently working with Renault-backed Alpine as an executive advisor as he looks to turn the French team’s fortunes around.
