Flavio Briatore has revealed the one condition he set before confirming his return to the Alpine F1 team after 15 years out of the sport.
Briatore may be one of the more polarising figures in Formula 1, but his knowledge, experience, and success in the sport cannot be argued against. The 74-year-old, once banned for his involvement in the 2008 ‘Crashgate’ scandal, has returned to the paddock with a singular mission in mind: to revive the Enstone outfit after a number of disappointing seasons and management reshuffles.
He previously helped turn the team into a championship-winning outfit when it was under the Benetton and Renault branding, and with the same playbook, he’s looking to do the same now. The team saw an uptick in performance towards the end of the 2024 season, finishing sixth in the Constructors’ Standings. But this was a far cry from the seven-title legacy they saw under Briatore’s leadership.
Now back with the French team, the Italian businessman is once again looking for control.
In a discussion with Motorsport.com, he outlined how this rekindled relationship came about and the condition he set for his return.
“This team, talking about Alpine, it’s the same team. It’s a Benetton team, a Renault team, an Alpine. You change the [colour of the] shirts, you change a little bit of the performance, but it is the same team.
“After 15 years out of Formula 1, I followed some races watching on TV. So, one day I called Luca. I told him I felt so sorry to see the team in this condition, because it was my team. I created this team. I built in the factory and there were world championships won in this building.
“I wanted to do something. And we started talking on the phone. One day we met in Paris, I was busy with my restaurant business – I had 1,200 employees and then 600, because I sold 50% of the business and I had a little more time.”
Renault CEO Luca de Meo, however, had to relinquish control of the team to the advisor.
“I just told Luca, let me see if it’s possible. If I still have the same book I had before, to put together this team. And we started talking but there was one condition, I wanted to be in charge completely.”
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor, Alpine F1
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
While Esteban Ocon has since moved to the Haas F1 team, he, alongside then-teammate Pierre Gasly, captured a double podium at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix, hinting at the potential within the squad. In the pouring rain, both drivers were able to leverage the conditions to their benefit, with the resulting points haul pushing them from the bottom of the standings to sixth.
Briatore was keen to ground the excitement, however. Talking with Sky Italia, he attributed the result to luck.
“Without taking anything away from an incredible Ocon in the wet and a Gasly who did his job well, today we were also lucky.
“I think we have a car that is better in the wet. Unfortunately, I don’t think the next three races will be wet. But today we saw with all these young drivers presented as a new phenomena how much experience still counts in Formula 1.”
Gasly now pairs with Jack Doohan for the 2025 season, and Alpine hopes for a more successful year.
Click here to read the full interview with Flavio Briatore.
