Flavio Briatore's Return to F1

Flavio Briatore, the former team principal of Renault, has revealed that he has been approached by Renault CEO Luca de Meo to return to Formula 1 as an executive advisor. In a recent interview on the Formula For Success podcast, Briatore disclosed that de Meo reached out to him after acknowledging that Alpine was facing significant challenges. Briatore noted that despite having previously ignored his counsel, de Meo admitted the team was "completely in the sh*t" and sought his expertise to navigate the troubled waters. Briatore, who has a long-standing relationship with de Meo, emphasized the complexities of the Formula 1 business, stating that a dedicated team is essential for success. He recounted their conversation where de Meo proposed his return, to which Briatore agreed, provided he could manage his involvement differently and not attend every race. This collaboration now includes Briatore, de Meo, and Oliver, the current team principal, working together to revitalize the struggling team. The veteran executive stressed the importance of integrating the commercial, technical, and management aspects of the team before focusing on driver performance. He asserted that the current level of performance renders the driver’s role less impactful. Briatore expressed optimism for the future, confidently predicting that Alpine will secure a podium finish by 2027, signaling a turnaround for the beleaguered team.