Alpine Formula 1 Team Boss Brushes Off Concerns Over Flavio Briatore’s Controversial Past
In a surprise move, Alpine Formula 1 team boss Bruno Famin has downplayed concerns over the appointment of Flavio Briatore as the team’s executive advisor, citing his focus on the future and improving the struggling outfit.
The announcement of Briatore’s new role, confirmed on Friday morning, has sparked unease in the Barcelona paddock due to his past involvement in the 2008 Singapore ‘Crashgate’ scandal. The former Benetton and Renault team principal served a lifetime paddock ban, which was later overturned in 2010. Since then, Briatore has been a regular visitor to the paddock and has facilitated commercial deals within the series.
When questioned about Briatore’s past, Famin dismissed concerns, stating, “I don’t really mind about the past, I’m always looking [at] the future, what we can do to get our team better.” He highlighted Briatore’s 40 years of experience in Formula 1 and his record of winning world titles, emphasizing the positive impact he can bring to the team.
Famin acknowledged that Briatore’s appointment may raise eyebrows but emphasized the importance of improving the team’s competitiveness. “There is a very clear goal to improve the competitiveness of the team as fast as possible, and we are looking for strong support,” he said.
The news of Briatore’s appointment has received a mixed response from other team principals. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed support, saying, “I think we need to give [him] the chance to recover from the situation. I have known Flavio as an extremely smart businessman. He has a lot of know-how in Formula 1. I think everybody deserves the opportunity to come back.“
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur also commented, “I don’t want to make any comment on what’s happened on another team, but overall, I think it’s probably as Bruno said: If it’s a step forward for their team, then it’s good for F1 if Alpine is coming back into the fight.“
As the Formula 1 season gears up, the Alpine team will be hoping to capitalize on Briatore’s experience and network to improve their performance. Meanwhile, Formula 1 news enthusiasts will be closely following the developments and reactions to this controversial appointment.
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