Flavio Briatore comeback rumours reach its peak
Rumours regarding the former Renault boss Flavio Briatore continues to gain pace with reports coming in that suggest he might possibly return to Formula 1 with Ferrari as he has visited the team’s Maranello headquarters a couple of times in the past few
weeks. The former boss was disgraced after his involvement in the ‘Crashgate’ scandal.
Briatore was forced to resign last year in shame as Renault’s head after the FIA prepared to hold the hearing about the ‘Crashgate’ scandal. Flavio’s was spotted visiting the Ferrari base in July highlighting suggestions that he is being lined-up for a return
to Formula 1 sometime next year.
Die Welt revealed this week that the former team boss is still visiting Ferrari and was spotted in the pit garage at the Italian Grand Prix.
Flavio was banned from any sort of involvement in Formula 1 until 2013 after his FIA hearing but is suspected to be lobbying the FIA to reduce his penalty. However, the ban has not prevented the Briatore from continuing to manage some leading drivers or
being in a major part of the action on a race weekend.
When questioned after Monza, he said, “I am meeting with Bernie [Ecclestone] and then flying back to London. It is fantastic to be back, to see friends and to be in Italy … Ferrari is on pole and everyone is happy. Just wonderful”, he replied after questioned
at the Italian Grand Prix.
Briatore was being protective like always before replying to the question about his return to Formula 1.
“I'm feeling very good and I'm happy with the way things are. We will see what happens in the future. Next week I will not be in Singapore; I am also perfectly happy at home”, he said.
It would be interesting to see what Flavio Briatore would do with Ferrari though. The former team boss for Renault made quite an impression as he took Renault to the top slot with some help from Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006. Renault was the only team
to beat the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher after his 5 year championship reign, keeping in mind the illustrious Ferrari record in Formula 1 history. Briatore was able to make a name for himself in Formula 1 after his team’s incredible performance but did not
manage to maintain his team’s enthusiasm after Alonso’s departure in 2007 for McLaren.
However, it can be said that Fernando made a mistake by joining McLaren since things did not work out as the Spaniard had planned between him and the team. His decision was understandable though since McLaren was his dream team since he was a kid. Even though
the Spaniard struggled with the team, this did not stop him from performing at his best as he secured the 3rd place in the drivers’ standings just a point behind the 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen. Fernando had to return to Flavio to join Renault
the following year, as it was quite clear that he would not be able to come to good terms with McLaren or Lewis Hamilton. Briatore did not object his decision and welcomed him back to the team but things were not the same anymore at Renault. After two constructors
and drivers’ championships, Renault has been struggling to finish at the top of the standings to date. Renault secured the 4th and 8th place in the years 2008 and 2009 respectively in the constructors’ standings. The team is currently
placed at the 5th spot just 31 points behind Mercedes. Renault is picking up the pace again since the past couple of races and the team hopes to get back to the top in the next season.
Ferrari on the other hand has always been at the top. The team has been giving solid performances since its establishment back in 1950. It would be interesting to see Flavio on Ferrari’s side next year, as many critics know him as a strategic genius.
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