Alpine has announced that former team boss Flavio Briatore will replace Oliver Oakes as the French team’s principal. Oakes shocked the F1 paddock by announcing he had resigned from the Enstone-based team. This left a void for Alpine to fill, and they turned to their current executive advisor to take on the role.
Briatore has a winning history with the team under its various guises. However, the Italian was banned by the FIA for a cheating scandal. The 75-year-old has managed to overcome the ban and become the team principal of an F1 team again. But how has he done this, and what is his history in the sport?
Flavio Briatore helps F1 legends win titles
Flavio Briatore first became the team principal of the team now known as Alpine back in 1990. The team was named Benetton then and was looking to take the fight to McLaren and Williams. This is where Briatore started to show his ruthless streak, as he signed Michael Schumacher after his debut outing in a Jordan.
Benetton were becoming a front-running team under the Italians’ leadership, and soon enough, they had titles to show for it. Schumacher was crowned champion in 1994 and 1995, while Benetton were the constructors’ champions in 1995. And Briatore’s for finding talent didn’t end there.
BREAKING: Oliver Oakes Resigns as Alpine F1 Team Principal, Flavio Briatore Takes Charge
Flavio launched Fernando Alonso’s career as he helped secure the Spaniard a seat at Minardi in 2001. He managed Alonso and then brought him to the team, now called Renault. This partnership was fruitful for both Alonso and Renault as both won the championships in 2005 and 2006, after taking the fight to Ferrari, who had dominated.
However, Renault lost pace to McLaren and Ferrari after their successive championships. This was hard for Briatore, who wanted to taste glory once more. In 2008, Renault was struggling and yet to win a race. So, Briatore took matters into his own hands, in a move which gave him a lifetime ban in F1.
Flavio Briatore has a lifetime ban revoked after controversy at the inaugural Singapore GP
Fernando Alonso won the 2008 Singapore GP after help from a safety car as a result of Nelson Piquet Jr’s crash. This was a shock result for Renault, which had yet to stand on the podium. However, the win was not above board.
After being axed from the team, Piquet alleged he had crashed deliberately under the direction of Briatore. This was to give Alonso a significant advantage under the safety car as the two-time world champion had qualified poorly. After an investigation by the FIA, Flavio was given a lifetime ban.
However, the Italian didn’t take the decision lying down, as he challenged the decision in French courts. The ban was overturned to the dismay of the FIA, a year after it had been given. However, Briatore didn’t return to F1 until 2024.
The team he had won three constructors’ championships, now called Alpine, was struggling to score points. Renault persuaded him to rejoin the team as chief advisor. Now, Briatore is at the helm again and began his tenure by sticking to his ruthless streak and replacing Jack Doohan instantly.
