The dazzling Flavio Briatore is returning to Formula 1 in an official capacity. The 74-year-old will become chief advisor to the Alpine team.
The controversial Italian was personally appointed by Renault CEO Luca de Meo. This was announced by Alpine on Friday before the Spanish Grand Prix. The Renault subsidiary, which is only 8th out of ten teams in the constructors' championship, is looking for a way out of the crisis after chaotic months.
Briatore, until recently advisor to two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, is now to provide decisive impetus. Among other things, the 74-year-old is to scrutinize the "existing project" by evaluating the "current structure" and providing advice on "a number of strategic issues".
Team Alpine, based in Enstone in the UK, helped Michael Schumacher to his first two world championship triumphs in 1994 and 1995 under the name Benetton. Briatore had recruited the German and was also team principal at the time. Two more titles came under the Renault umbrella in 2005 and 2006 with Alonso.
Briatore, during whose liaison with Heidi Klum daughter Leni was born, experienced a low point in Formula 1 in 2008 after a faked accident involving his driver Nelson Piquet Junior: following this "Crashgate", he was initially banned for life by the FIA, but was later pardoned in order to bring his knowledge of commercial matters to the premier class of motorsport.
