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Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Controversial supermodel-loving Flavio Briatore was given lifetime ban for Crashgate but has returned to top of F1
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FLAVIO BRIATORE is back in charge of a Formula One team, 16 years after he was handed a "lifetime ban" from one of the motorsport's most infamous scandals. The Italian has taken the reins as team principal at F1 outfit Alpine after Oliver Oakes resigned from his position just six races into the season. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 13 Flavio Briatore is back in F1 as a team principal Credit: Rex 13 He is infamous for his part in Crashgate which saw Nelson Piquet Jr crash his car so Fernando Alonso could win the race Credit: Formula One 13 The controversial figure has previously dated supermodel Naomi Campbell Credit: Getty 13 His first move since returning as Alpine boss was to axe Jack Doohan Credit: PA That decision appears to have come due to Briatore pushing for Jack Doohan to be replaced by Franco Colapinto, a decision that was confirmed the morning after his appointment. Briatore was brought back into the F1 fold by Renault chief Luca de Meo after more than a decade on the sidelines following 2009's Crashgate scandal. The incident, regarded as one of F1's biggest controversies, had seen Renault order then driver Nelson Piquet Jr to crash his car at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to help Fernando Alonso win the race - a decision which had huge ramifications for the maiden title won by Lewis Hamilton. Alonso was cleared of any wrongdoing in the aftermath, while Renault were charged by the motorsport's governing body, the FIA, with Briatore being ousted from his then role as team principal and managing director. READ MORE IN F1 Al gone south 'Watford of F1' in chaos as team principal resigns with driver facing axe too Briatore was then slapped with a lifetime ban by the FIA for his part in the incident before he saw it overturned in 2010 following an ugly court battle, though he added at the time he did not think he would ever return to F1. But fast forward 12 years, he initially rejoined the sport as an ambassador in 2022 before being appointed as special advisor to Renault last year, and it seems he has ultimately been calling the shots since then. Fraud convictions and fugitive status Controversy has followed Briatore both in and out of F1. In the 1980s he was convicted on multiple counts of fraud and received two prison sentences in Italy. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Both convictions were reduced on appeal and Briatore never actually went to jail as he lived as a fugitive on the Virgin Islands. He returned to Europe when his convictions were extinguished by amnesty, but had maintained close relations with one Luciano Benetton, who would eventually found an F1 team. Flavio Briatore's £18m yacht bought for bargain £6.6m by Ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone Poaching Schumacher and Renault world champions 13 Briatore poached Michael Schumacher from Eddie Jordan in 1991 Credit: Alamy 13 Schumacher won two driver's titles at Benetton with the team winning the 1995 Constructors' Championship Credit: PA:Press Association 13 He later unearthed Fernando Alonso, right, and won two more driver's title with him Credit: AFP Briatore became the team manager of the Benetton F1 team, formerly Toleman, in 1990, after firing the previous team management in his role of commercial director. As team manager he then managed to poach Michael Schumacher from the grasp of the late Eddie Jordan after his first F1 race, before the German went on to win F1 titles in 1994 and 1995 while Benetton won the Constructors' Championship in 1995. In 1994 the team was accused of using multiple forms of cheating, including unproven alleged use of illegal software and discarding a regulation fuel filter to speed up pit stops, only escaping punishment for the latter after pointing out multiple rivals had done the same. The team slipped into the midfield when a number of key technical staff and Schumacher moved to Ferrari in 1996 before Renault took over the Benetton team in 2000. There he found and nurtured a young Alonso and fired Jenson Button to hand the Spaniard a seat before he went on to win the Drivers Championship in 2005 and 2006 and end Schumacher's dominance. Supermodel fever 13 Briatore dated supermodel Heidi Klum Credit: Getty 13 He later married Elisabetta Gregoraci before they got divorced in 2018 Credit: Getty Images - Getty The glitz and glamour of the F1 lifestyle spilled over into Briatore's personal life. In 1998 he got engaged to supermodel Naomi Campbell, but they never married with the pair being involved in an on and off relationship before they split in 2003. In March of that year he then started dating supermodel Heidi Klum, with Klum announcing her pregnancy in December before the pair split. Klum gave birth to daughter Leni, but said Briatore was not involved in her life before, in 2009, she was officially adopted by Klum's partner, Seal, and had her name changed. Briatore briefly dated English actress and model Emma Heming Willis in 2004, with later flings coming with German catwalk pro Nadine Smith and actress Annemarie Warnkross - and it's even been speculated he romanced Polish model Marzena Cieslik. He eventually married "Wonderbra" model and TV presenter Elisabetta Gregoraci in 2008, with the pair being wed in Rome and Alonso driving the newlyweds to their lavish reception at the Castello di Torcrescenza. She gave birth to son Falco in 2010, but in 2018 the pair divorced, with Briatore being seen dating Benedetta Bosi - 49 years his junior - in 2019. However, last year it was reported in Italy that Briatore had rekindled his romance with Gregoraci. Crashgate fallouts 13 Bernie Ecclestone claimed he kept Crashgate under wraps to avoid scandal Credit: AFP 13 Felipe Massa subsequently launched legal action into the 2008 World Championship Credit: Getty 13 Nelson Piquet Jr claimed he had his F1 career threatened by Briatore over Crashgate Credit: Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone claimed in 2023 that he and former FIA president Max Mosley had kept the "Crashgate" plot hidden initially to avoid scandal. Ecclestone said: "We decided not to do anything for now. We wanted to protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal. That's why I used angelic tongues to persuade my former driver Nelson Piquet to keep calm for the time being. "Back then, there was a rule that a world championship classification after the FIA awards ceremony at the end of the year was untouchable. "So Hamilton was presented with the trophy and everything was fine. We had enough information in time to investigate the matter. According to the statutes, we should have cancelled the race in Singapore under these conditions. "That means it would never have happened for the championship standings. And then Felipe Massa would have become world champion and not Lewis Hamilton." Those comments sparked a legal case from 2008 runner-up Felipe Massa, who believes he missed out on the title that season through no fault of his own, while Piquet Jr claimed he had his F1 career threatened by Briatore if he did not follow orders. Piquet Jr told On the Tracks Podcast: "The race came to Singapore and they put me psychologically up against the wall, I had no escape. "A lot of people still ask me, 'Would you do it again?' My answer is always, 'No, obviously not.' "At that age and under so much pressure… "There was no one with me, except that grotesque Briatore, who was always bullying and was always complaining, pressuring me and warning me: 'This is your last chance'." F1 return Before his return Briatore - a former ski instructor and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers - underwent heart surgery. But since returning to the F1 grid, Briatore has not exactly been subtle. The latest season of the popular Netflix series Drive to Survive features Briatore playing up to a role of villain as he told Aussie rookie Doohan "I control you every millimetre" in one scene. Alpine sit P9 in the Constructors Championship with just seven points from six races. And his first move as the official team boss was to axe Doohan - who he is also manager of- for Colapinto. Now the controversial F1 manager is back in place. And fireworks are sure to follow.
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Controversial supermodel-loving Flavio Briatore was given lifetime ban for Crashgate but has returned to top of F1
FLAVIO BRIATORE is back in charge of a Formula One team, 16 years after he was handed a "lifetime ban" from one of the motorsport's most infamous scandals. The Italian has taken the reins as team principal at F1 outfit Alpine after Advertisement 13 Flavio Briatore is back in F1 as a team principal Credit: Rex 13 He is infamous for his part in Crashgate which saw Nelson Piquet Jr crash his car so Fernando Alonso could win the race Credit: Formula One 13 The controversial figure has previously dated supermodel Naomi Campbell Credit: Getty 13 His first move since returning as Alpine boss was to axe Jack Doohan Credit: PA That decision appears to have come due to Briatore pushing for Jack Doohan to be replaced by Franco Colapinto, a decision that was confirmed the morning after his appointment. Briatore was brought back into the F1 fold by Renault chief Luca de Meo after more than a decade on the sidelines following 2009's Crashgate scandal. The incident, regarded as one of F1's biggest controversies, had seen Renault order then driver Alonso was cleared of any wrongdoing in the aftermath, while Renault were charged by the motorsport's governing body, the FIA, with Briatore being ousted from his then role as team principal and managing director. Advertisement READ MORE IN F1 Briatore was then slapped with a lifetime ban by the FIA for his part in the incident before he saw it overturned in 2010 following an ugly court battle, though he added at the time he did not think he would ever return to F1. But fast forward 12 years, he initially rejoined the sport as an ambassador in 2022 before being appointed as special advisor to Renault last year, and it seems he has ultimately been calling the shots since then. Fraud convictions and fugitive status Controversy has followed Briatore both in and out of F1. In the 1980s he was convicted on multiple counts of fraud and received two prison sentences in Italy. Advertisement Most read in Motorsport BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Both convictions were reduced on appeal and Briatore never actually went to jail as he lived as a fugitive on the Virgin Islands. He returned to Europe when his convictions were extinguished by amnesty, but had maintained close relations with one Luciano Benetton, who would eventually found an F1 team. Flavio Briatore's £18m yacht bought for bargain £6.6m by Ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone Poaching Schumacher and Renault world champions 13 Briatore poached Michael Schumacher from Eddie Jordan in 1991 Credit: Alamy Advertisement 13 Schumacher won two driver's titles at Benetton with the team winning the 1995 Constructors' Championship Credit: PA:Press Association 13 He later unearthed Fernando Alonso, right, and won two more driver's title with him Credit: AFP Briatore became the team manager of the Benetton F1 team, formerly Toleman, in 1990, after firing the previous team management in his role of commercial director. As team manager he then managed to poach Advertisement In 1994 the team was accused of using multiple forms of cheating, including unproven alleged use of illegal software and discarding a regulation fuel filter to speed up pit stops, only escaping punishment for the latter after pointing out multiple rivals had done the same. The team slipped into the midfield when a number of key technical staff and Schumacher moved to Ferrari in 1996 before Renault took over the Benetton team in 2000. There he found and nurtured a young Alonso and fired Supermodel fever 13 Briatore dated supermodel Heidi Klum Credit: Getty Advertisement 13 He later married Elisabetta Gregoraci before they got divorced in 2018 Credit: Getty Images - Getty The In 1998 he got engaged to supermodel In March of that year he then started dating supermodel Heidi Klum, with Klum announcing her pregnancy in December before the pair split. Advertisement Klum gave birth to daughter Leni, but said Briatore was not involved in her life before, in 2009, she was officially adopted by Klum's partner, Seal, and had her name changed. Briatore briefly dated English actress and model Emma Heming Willis in 2004, with later flings coming with German catwalk pro Nadine Smith and actress Annemarie Warnkross - and it's even been speculated he romanced Polish model Marzena Cieslik. He eventually married "Wonderbra" model and TV presenter Elisabetta Gregoraci in 2008, with the pair being wed in Rome and Alonso driving the newlyweds to their lavish reception at the Castello di Torcrescenza. She gave birth to son Falco in 2010, but in 2018 the pair divorced, with Briatore being seen dating Benedetta Bosi - 49 years his junior - in 2019. Advertisement However, last year it was reported in Italy that Briatore had rekindled his romance with Gregoraci. Crashgate fallouts 13 Bernie Ecclestone claimed he kept Crashgate under wraps to avoid scandal Credit: AFP 13 Felipe Massa subsequently launched legal action into the 2008 World Championship Credit: Getty 13 Nelson Piquet Jr claimed he had his F1 career threatened by Briatore over Crashgate Credit: Advertisement Former F1 supremo Ecclestone said: "We decided not to do anything for now. We wanted to protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal. That's why I used angelic tongues to persuade my former driver Nelson Piquet to keep calm for the time being. "Back then, there was a rule that a world championship classification after the FIA awards ceremony at the end of the year was untouchable. "So Hamilton was presented with the trophy and everything was fine. We had enough information in time to investigate the matter. According to the statutes, we should have cancelled the race in Singapore under these conditions. Advertisement "That means it would never have happened for the championship standings. And then Felipe Massa would have become world champion and not Lewis Hamilton." Those comments sparked a legal case from 2008 runner-up Felipe Massa, who believes he missed out on the title that season through no fault of his own, while Piquet Jr told On the Tracks Podcast: "The race came to Singapore and they put me psychologically up against the wall, I had no escape. "A lot of people still ask me, 'Would you do it again?' My answer is always, 'No, obviously not.' Advertisement "At that age and under so much pressure… "There was no one with me, except that grotesque Briatore, who was always bullying and was always complaining, pressuring me and warning me: 'This is your last chance'." F1 2025 THE new Formula One season is well underway - and one team appear to be running away with it. A massive summer of change saw Lewis Hamilton move on from Mercedes and join Ferrari, while the McLaren pair of The Red Bull ace is aiming for a record-equalling FIFTH consecutive world title. INFORMATION F1 2025 calendar, race times, TV and live stream info How much does each driver earn and are there bonuses? Full list of drivers and teams for 2025 Track guide - were there any changes this season? LATEST NEWS SEASON SO FAR Race Five - Saudi Arabia F1 return Before his return Briatore - a former ski instructor and co-owner of But since returning to the F1 grid, Briatore has not exactly been subtle. Advertisement The latest season of the popular Netflix series Drive to Survive features Briatore playing up to a role of villain as he told Aussie rookie Doohan "I control you every millimetre" in one scene. Alpine sit P9 in the Constructors Championship with just seven points from six races. And his first move as the official team boss was to axe Doohan - who he is also manager of- for Colapinto. Now the controversial F1 manager is back in place. And fireworks are sure to follow. Advertisement 13
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
What Lewis Hamilton isn't getting from Ferrari as Michael Schumacher point made
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has had a tough start to life as a Ferrari driver, and Ralf Schumacher believes the Brit may walk away from the sport if his luck doesn't change Ralf Schumacher admits that Lewis Hamilton's career with Ferrari hasn't begun as he might have hoped, and the British racing legend isn't getting the "special protection" he received during his time at Mercedes. The 40-year-old's switch from Mercedes to the Scuderia happened during the 2025 offseason, following Hamilton's earlier announcement about leaving the Silver Arrows before the 2024 season commenced. However, his journey has been rocky thus far. His peak performance in the primary races was fifth place at the Bahrain Grand Prix, despite showing promising signs during sprint events, including in Miami, where he finished third. Ex-F1 star Ralf Schumacher, brother of motorsport legend Michael, has shared his insight on Hamilton's tenure at Ferrari, and claims that Hamilton faces the challenge that his new team does not tolerate poor results lightly. Speaking to Sport Bild, Schumacher said:"At Mercedes, Hamilton was under special protection – that's no longer the case at Ferrari. "Fred Vasseur shows how serious things are there. He used to always have a light-hearted joke. But now he's lost his sense of humour." Schumacher has drawn parallels between his brother Michael's illustrious tenure with Ferrari, where he clinched five consecutive F1 World Championships, and the current challenges faced by Hamilton. He highlighted the rigorous preparation that was a hallmark of Michael's time at Scuderia, adding: "When Michael moved to Ferrari, he tested the car for 35,000 kilometres in the winter. "The message was clear: preparation and car development tailored to the driver make all the difference, and Hamilton may not have been given the optimal foundation for success in 2025." Hamilton himself is feeling the pressure on the track, as he expressed his frustration at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and his lack of enthusiasm for the upcoming Miami race. Post-race, he said: "There wasn't a single second where I felt comfortable. No fun, no flow, nothing positive. "I think I'll struggle also in Miami. I don't know how much longer I'll struggle for, but it's definitely painful. At the moment, there's no fix. So, this is how it's going to be for the rest of the year. It's going to be painful." Schumacher agrees with Hamilton's sentiments, adding that Hamilton is facing the issue that the car isn't tailored to how he drives. Ralf said: "You can see how much the situation is weighing on him. When you feel you're stuck as a driver, anything can happen. "I don't know why they thought they could compete for the championship. With a car that was actually built for Charles Leclerc. And that he only tested for two days in Bahrain." Schumacher also shared with Sky Germany's Backstage Pit Lane podcast that if the current situation at Ferrari persists, Hamilton might not stick around for long. He added: "You can see that he's really slumped over. "If you're standing there at some point and have no more resources and are permanently slower, then you lose everything. I know from my own experience: if it goes on like this, it's no fun anymore. "If it goes on like this, there's a risk that at some point he'll say: 'Look, I don't want this anymore'. Obviously, it's not working out for some reason. It's a huge project that Ferrari and Hamilton had in mind, but at the moment, he's a long way away from Charles Leclerc." Hamilton secured third place in Saturday's tumultuous sprint race thanks to a perfectly timed pit stop, which gave the team some hope for for the main race. However, he's set to start 12th on the grid after failing to advance beyond the second qualifying session.
Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Lewis Hamilton could retire before contract expires as Ferrari struggles 'no fun'
Lewis Hamilton has endured a nightmare start to life with Ferrari and has been warned by Ralf Schumacher that he could soon walk away from the sport A former racing star has warned that Lewis Hamilton might walk away from Formula 1 before his Ferrari contract is up if he doesn't turn around his performance. The seven-time champion has had a rocky start with the Scuderia, managing to scrape together only 31 points in five outings. Hamilton hasn't managed to place above fifth in any Grand Prix for his new squad and struggled to a seventh-place finish in Saudi Arabia last Sunday. Even his sole highlight this season, clinching a Sprint race victory in China, was marred by the gut-wrenching disqualification from the subsequent main event in Shanghai. With his dream of an eighth F1 title rapidly unravelling, there's now talk that the British racing legend could exit stage left from the sport before his current contract concludes next year. Ex-F1 ace Ralf Schumacher reckons Hamilton hasn't quite got the measure of his new ride. He also senses that the 40-year-old superstar's passion for racing may have waned. "You can see that he's really slumped over," he observed on Sky Germany's Backstage Pit Lane podcast. "If you're standing there at some point and have no more resources and are permanently slower, then you lose everything. "I know from my own experience: if it goes on like this, it's no fun anymore. If it goes on like this, there's a risk that at some point he'll say, 'Look, I don't want this anymore'. "Obviously, it's not working out for some reason. It's a huge project that Ferrari and Hamilton had in mind, but at the moment, he's a long way away from [team-mate] Charles Leclerc." While Hamilton has struggled to perform, the general consensus is that Leclerc has been able to get the most out of Ferrari's car so far this season. He especially impressed in Jeddah by securing the team's first Grand Prix podium of 2025, taking the chequered flag third ahead of the quicker McLaren of Lando Norris. Schumacher's comments come after Hamilton made a sombre forecast following that Saudi Arabia race. He does not foresee any significant improvements in performance for the rest of the 2025 season, reports the Express. "I think I'll struggle also in Miami," he admitted. "I don't know how much longer I'll struggle for, but it's definitely painful. At the moment, there's no fix. So, this is how it's going to be for the rest of the year. It's going to be painful." Hamilton sits seventh in the drivers' championship heading into this weekend's Miami Grand Prix. He is 16 points and two places behind Leclerc and already 68 adrift of standings leader Oscar Piastri, who leapfrogged Norris with his Jeddah victory.
