The mastermind behind the Crashgate scandal, Briatore, and his accomplice at Renault, in an effort to save the team from collapse, made the decision to manipulate the outcome of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. They instructed Nelson Piquet Junior to deliberately crash his car, putting his own life and the lives of his competitors at risk, to benefit his teammate Fernando Alonso, who ended up winning the race that night.
A year later, Piquet finally spoke out about the scandal, and Crashgate became the most infamous and shameful controversy in Formula 1 history. Those responsible for this despicable act, Pat Symonds and his superior Briatore, were subsequently banned from the sport. However, the punishment they received was too lenient compared to the severity of their actions.
Even someone as bumbling as Inspector Clouseau would question something that remained unanswered in the aftermath of Crashgate: did Symonds and/or Briatore (or anyone associated with them) have any financial interest in that race? Can the opposite be proven?
Regardless of the circumstances, if Formula 1 were a real-world court and I were the judge responsible for the case, Flavio and Pat would have been sentenced to prison for their deceitful behavior. Furthermore, they would have been permanently banned from any involvement in the sport. May their actions serve as a warning to others.
Several years later, Symonds managed to return to the sport, albeit in an official capacity. It’s almost like a thief showing the police how to commit a crime. Currently, he is affiliated with Andretti, a team in which I doubt General Motors is concerned about his tainted past as Briatore’s accomplice.
This is the extent of the crime for which they were caught in Formula 1. With Briatore and his accomplices, suspicions of cheating always hung over the paddock. One example is the 1994 traction control software scandal, where it was discovered that the Benetton team, under Briatore’s leadership, had been using the prohibited software in their cars.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg of Briatore’s life outside the Formula 1 paddock. In the 1980s, he was convicted of multiple fraud charges in an Italian court. Despite his “crimes” within the sport, Briatore remains deeply involved in the inner circle that governs Formula 1 at all levels. He was a trusted confidant and close friend of Bernie Ecclestone and can often be seen socializing with influential figures like F1 boss Stefano Domenicali and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. Are they the silent manipulators behind motorsport, not just Formula 1?
Although Briatore may have officially returned, it is clear that his interests in Formula 1 have always been present, from managing drivers to negotiating lucrative Grand Prix deals (for example, Azerbaijan), which undoubtedly keep him well connected within the sport.
Most Formula 1 enthusiasts, drivers, and experts I know share a deep-rooted and justified contempt for Briatore, and the feeling is mutual. The 74-year-old Super Italian Cheat made it clear during an interview with Sky F1 when asked about his critics, responding with a resounding “F*** off”. There were no apologies, humility, and certainly no remorse.
Briatore went on to clarify his return to Renault (now known as Alpine) for the third time, attributing it to his relationship with Luca de Meo, the president of Renault. He expressed his admiration for de Meo and how the president sought his experience as an executive consultant to overcome performance challenges. The negotiations lasted several months, resulting in his appointment.
This move indicates that Briatore will take on a role similar to Helmut Marko at Red Bull and Niki Lauda’s involvement with Mercedes before his death. This will certainly generate headlines.
While Formula 1 seeks diversity, transparency, and youth, they have welcomed back a 74-year-old individual who is widely considered the sport’s biggest cheat, without holding him accountable for his “crimes.” It’s as if they are ignoring this, treating his absence as nothing more than an extended break from the sport.
Not surprisingly, Briatore is excited about his new role, stating that he is motivated and believes in his ability to guide the team in the right direction. His main focus is to restore the team’s performance and competitiveness, which aligns with his passion for competition.
When asked if he would take on the role of team principal at Alpine, currently held by Bruno Famin, Briatore dismissed the idea, emphasizing that he works alongside Famin and the rest of the team. His role involves reporting to Luca de Meo and collaborating to achieve the best possible performance for the team.
In the short period of four or five days since his appointment, the notorious Briatore seems to have been involved in various aspects of the team. However, he reassures everyone that he has no intention of making drastic changes or taking on a driver role. His sole objective is to ensure competitiveness. He believes that within two years, the team will be back on top.
Briatore is eager to contribute to the team’s success, acknowledging the excellent work done by the current team boss and the collaborative efforts of the organization. He is confident that, with their combined efforts, they will achieve their goals in a relatively short period of time.
Regarding the rumors about Renault potentially discontinuing the production of their F1 Power Units and considering the use of rebranded Mercedes engines for Alpine, Briatore stated that this is not currently an objective. He mentioned that they are exploring different opportunities to make the team competitive and will choose the best option for the team.
Briatore acknowledged that Formula 1 is always full of gossip, but they have not made any decisions yet. They are actively working to find the ideal solution for the team.
Based on Briatore’s return at the Spanish Grand Prix, it seems that there will be many future quotes from him. However, let’s conclude this article with a lighter note instead of focusing on the harsh reality that Flav is back.
During the weekend in Barcelona, I found it amusing to consider three things: firstly, the issues at McLaren; secondly, the impressive performance of the Alpines this year; and lastly, the disbelief that Flavio is involved.
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