One wonders what is going on in the offices of the Renault Group in Boulogne-Billancourt on the outskirts of Paris for it to make such a decision about its Formula 1 operation.
Just how bad has it got that Renault finds itself in this position to reappoint a disgraced former team boss – one that plunged the famous French brand into its darkest moments in motorsport?
And he is not returning in some sort of marketing or brand capacity for the titles he won with the team in 2005 and 2006, but as an advisor to the company’s CEO. How short was the wish list of potential candidates to lead Alpine out of the mire?
Yes, these appear hard times for Renault’s involvement in Formula 1, as it stands at a crossroads weighing up whether or not to pull the plug on its engine operation. But really, has it got that bad they have to turn to the man that nearly destroyed it?
For all the characters in F1 during the 1990s and 2000s, Briatore was perhaps the most synonymous with the sport’s perceived playboy lifestyle.
He was a ski instructor-turned-restauranteur-turned-insurance broker-turned-owner of a paint firm-turned stockbroker before meeting Luciano Benetton, who founded the Benetton clothing company.
Michael Schumacher, Benetton and Benetton team manager Flavio Briatore
Photo by: Sutton Images
Briatore has been the subject of intense scrutiny from the authorities, who have delved into finances and tax returns – yet he’s always emerged on the other side unscathed. Reputation tarnished, yet still in service.
Seemingly, nothing sticks when it comes to Briatore. Like the way he has been welcomed back into the F1 paddock after masterminding one of the world championship’s most controversial moments.
At the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Briatore and his chief engineer Pat Symonds were implicated in an order passed to Fernando Alonso’s team-mate, Nelson Piquet Jr, who deliberately crashed to cause a safety car that would in turn help Alonso to win the race, which he duly did.
‘Crashgate’ is now the subject of legal action by Felipe Massa, who is seeking remuneration for his claim that he missed out on the 2008 world championship as a consequence of Alonso’s win.
The allegations of race-fixing surfaced in 2009 after Piquet left Renault and turned whistle-blower. Despite protesting in his innocence, Briatore was banned for life from all FIA-sanctioned events while Renault was shown leniency by the FIA, much to the frustration of some…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Autosport.com – Formula 1 – Stories…