Latest news with #Briatore
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Flavio Briatore calls for massive F1 rule change in bonkers press conference
The FIA press conference at the Spanish Grand Prix was a memorable one with Flavio Briatore stealing the show through his irreverent presence representing Alpine Flavio Briatore certainly made an impression in his first FIA press conference since returning to Formula 1. He was representing Alpine at the Spanish Grand Prix with the team required to provide a figurehead to face the media for the first time since team principal Oliver Oakes resigned. The official FIA press conferences are usually highly structured, sedate settings – devoid of much character. That was never going to be the case this time with Briatore present and, expectedly, it led to a few memorable moments. Some of them involved genuine points being made by the Italian, such as when he gave his verdict on the budget cap which didn't exist when he first rose to prominence in F1 – he likes it, but believes it should change to include driver salaries too. Briatore said: "This was a very good idea to have the cost cap for the teams. I believe it should stay. I also believe the salary of the driver should be part of that – not only what we have now. The cost budget cap was a very good idea. I believe we should increase the budget including the salaries of the driver." But some other moments during the press conference were almost slapstick. And Briatore was encouraged by the presence of his old friend Christian Horner sitting beside him, the Red Bull boss clearly getting a kick out of the Italian's disruptive presence. Host Tom Clarkson just about got through his introductory questions without too much drama. But then as soon as the press conference was opened to questions from the floor, the very first one that went Briatore's way prompted one of the more baffling responses to a question that this platform had seen in some time. And it's not as though it wasn't a fairly straightforward ask. "Flavio, could we see Mick Schumacher racing for Alpine in Formula 1 in 2025 or 2026?" But it seemed as though Briatore misheard and thought it might have been a question about Michael Schumacher, who he worked with at Benetton in the 1990s. And so he replied: "I'm not sure why we're talking about Schumacher now. We are here in 2025. I don't understand. What you want to know?" When the question was repeated to him by Horner, he added: "I don't think it's the question to ask here, now. Next question!" And when Clarkson, with a note of exasperation, asked: "Just to be clear, is Mick going to be signed?", Briatore just snapped back: "I don't want to talk about that." Horner took the opportunity to crack a joke when he was asked a question next, replying with a grin: "I think I'm going to take a leaf out of Flavio's book and say, 'I don't want to answer it'. But then he did. Briatore did his best to as well, for a few minutes, until he appeared to lose interest mid-way through answering a question about whether he felt Pierre Gasly has what it takes to win F1 titles in the future. After 30 seconds of mumbling a half-answer, for some reason, he threw over to Horner who responded: "I have no idea what you're talking about." The Red Bull chief added: "But all I want to say is how refreshing it is to have Flav back. I mean, he had a bit of time out, but it is so much fun. These press conferences were so boring before you came back." He's right – these press conferences can be a little dull at times, and that wasn't a word that could be used to describe this one. F1 has lost some personality in the last 12 months with Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas falling off the grid but, in Briatore, boy, has it got some back in return.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Flavio Briatore provides Alpine driver update with F1 star's seat under pressure
Franco Colapinto replaced Jack Doohan just six races into the current season but the Alpine racer didn't enjoy the best of returns to the F1 grid in Imola and Monaco Flavio Briatore has confirmed that Franco Colapinto will be given time to prove himself despite an inauspicious start to his Alpine career. The Italian also used a press conference at the Spanish Grand Prix to provide an update on the team's search for a new team principal. It has been a season of upheaval so far for Alpine, who sit ninth out of 10 teams in the Formula 1 constructors' championship. Jack Doohan lost his seat six races into the campaign, having failed to score a point, with Colapinto promoted to replace him. And their team principal also moved on after the Miami Grand Prix when Oliver Oakes announced his resignation. But one constant is Briatore who continues to rule the midfield outfit with an iron fist, as he has since his return as a 'special adviser' to team owner Renault. Despite being part of Doohan's personal management team, Briatore demoted the Australian back to a reserve role, keen to give Colapinto the chance to show what he can do. But the Argentine has struggled to make an impression in the two races since. Briatore is not renowned for his patience but is showing it to Colapinto, for now. Asked about the racer's situation, he said: "He's a very young driver. Last year he did very well, two races super with Williams, some other races not so super. "I believe he's not completely relaxed at this moment – he needs to have more mileage. Franco, he is a good driver, he's very young. Let him have some time and see what happens. Let's see what happens this weekend. But, at the moment, we've given the chance to him and, for the moment, it is him driving the car." Briatore has taken full command of the team since the announcement of Oakes' departure earlier this month. But as he is not an F1 licence holder, he cannot be named as team principal with racing director Dave Greenwood the official team representative in the eyes of the FIA. Not that it is affecting Briatore's work in any way. The Italian made as much clear as he shrugged off questions about Alpine's search for a new team principal, playing down its importance as he said it makes "zero difference" to him what title he has. He said: "We are looking forward. For the moment nothing has changed. I feel sorry for Oli because I have a very good relationship with Oli. He was a good team principal. Like everybody knows, for personal reasons he stopped and resigned from Alpine. "We are looking. We don't want to make any mistakes. I prefer to take some time. But in the moment we decide what will be the new team manager. Put it this way and we tell you."
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alpine boss Flavio Briatore ‘should not be back in F1', says Johnny Herbert
Johnny Herbert believes Flavio Briatore should 'not be back in F1' after the Italian maverick returned to the paddock with Alpine as de facto team principal. Briatore, 75, will enact all the duties of former team principal Oliver Oakes after the Briton's resignation three weeks ago, due to personal reasons. Advertisement While Briatore's official title will remain 'executive adviser', he is effectively back as team boss 17 years after the 2008 Crashgate scandal, when he was initially given a lifetime ban from the sport for his role as Renault team principal in Nelson Piquet Jnr's deliberate crash in Singapore. Briatore's ban was later overturned in the French courts but, given his chequered past, ex-F1 driver Herbert believes it's wrong that the Italian has returned in a team-leading capacity in the paddock. 'I didn't agree when Flavio Briatore came back and I still don't agree that he's back,' Herbert said. 'But he is back and he's in the battle. He's now head of the Alpine team and running it. Advertisement 'Those decisions have been made, as I said, don't agree. I don't think it's the right thing, he's back.' Briatore, who returned to Renault-owned Alpine last summer as 'executive adviser', recently decided to drop Jack Doohan after just seven races for Argentine driver Franco Colapinto. Flavio Briatore is back as de facto team boss at Alpine (Getty Images) However, with a keen eye on new regulations in 2026 and a chance for Alpine to narrow the gap to the frontrunners, Herbert believes Briatore could target a seasoned veteran in the F1 cockpit. 'If Briatore is someone who gets Sergio Perez at Alpine and Perez does a good job and then Flavio gets on his side, he'd be in a very strong position,' Hebert said, in quotes associated with 'If it doesn't go well, you'll have exactly what's happened with Jack Doohan. Advertisement 'That is always going to be part of what Flavio does. He will always choose one. 'He's one who has always done that and that's where it can be very damaging for the driver's career, but also just mentally.' Alpine failed to score points at the last race in Monaco; F1 next heads to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.
The Independent
7 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Alpine boss Flavio Briatore ‘should not be back in F1', says Johnny Herbert
Johnny Herbert believes Flavio Briatore should 'not be back in F1 ' after the Italian maverick returned to the paddock with Alpine as de facto team principal. Briatore, 75, will enact all the duties of former team principal Oliver Oakes after the Briton's resignation three weeks ago, due to personal reasons. While Briatore's official title will remain 'executive adviser', he is effectively back as team boss 17 years after the 2008 Crashgate scandal, when he was initially given a lifetime ban from the sport for his role as Renault team principal in Nelson Piquet Jnr's deliberate crash in Singapore. Briatore's ban was later overturned in the French courts but, given his chequered past, ex-F1 driver Herbert believes it's wrong that the Italian has returned in a team-leading capacity in the paddock. 'I didn't agree when Flavio Briatore came back and I still don't agree that he's back,' Herbert said. 'But he is back and he's in the battle. He's now head of the Alpine team and running it. 'Those decisions have been made, as I said, don't agree. I don't think it's the right thing, he's back.' Briatore, who returned to Renault-owned Alpine last summer as 'executive adviser', recently decided to drop Jack Doohan after just seven races for Argentine driver Franco Colapinto. However, with a keen eye on new regulations in 2026 and a chance for Alpine to narrow the gap to the frontrunners, Herbert believes Briatore could target a seasoned veteran in the F1 cockpit. 'If Briatore is someone who gets Sergio Perez at Alpine and Perez does a good job and then Flavio gets on his side, he'd be in a very strong position,' Hebert said, in quotes associated with 'If it doesn't go well, you'll have exactly what's happened with Jack Doohan. 'That is always going to be part of what Flavio does. He will always choose one. 'He's one who has always done that and that's where it can be very damaging for the driver's career, but also just mentally.' Alpine failed to score points at the last race in Monaco; F1 next heads to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.
Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
No set limit on races for Colapinto, says Alpine's Briatore
IMOLA, Italy - Argentine Formula One rookie Franco Colapinto has no set limit on how many races he will get with Alpine this season despite talk of an initial five, according to boss Flavio Briatore. Colapinto, who made nine starts with Williams in 2024, has replaced Australian Jack Doohan after six of 24 races and is making his Alpine debut at Imola this weekend. "It's not that a driver gets three or five races. I expected more from Jack Doohan. Maybe he needs a break," Briatore told Sky Italia. "Franco will race as much as needed. I read somewhere that he'll have five races, but no, there's no set limit on his races. "He needs to be fast, not crash, and score points. I'm only asking him these three things... if he does them well, he will drive forever." Alpine quoted Briatore in a press release last week as saying: "We have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre (Gasly) for the next five races. "The next five races will give us an opportunity to try something different and after this time period we will assess our options." Colapinto was 17th and 13th respectively in Friday's two practice sessions. "I'm beginning to be in a happier place with the car after my first day. There's still a lot of work to do with the setup but I'm starting to be more comfortable," he said. "I am building up to it and by the end of the day I was starting to be a bit more competitive. The car is looking quite strong, especially with Pierre so I'm sure we are in the mix." Gasly was a surprise third fastest in the second session, a boost for Alpine who are ninth of 10 teams in the standings. Briatore has taken on the duties of Oliver Oakes, who resigned suddenly as principal last week after the Miami Grand Prix. The Italian said Oakes, who is at Imola in the F2 paddock with his Hitech operation, had caught the team by surprise with his resignation on personal grounds. "Nothing changes. The organisational chart has shifted a bit, but everything else stays the same," said Briatore of his role. "For now, I'm taking charge, but I'm used to that, it's not my first day at school." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
