Renault is not doing great things. When you’re at the end of your tether gas often desperate actions bordering on the ridiculous are put into action. The return of Flavio Briatore as “Executive Advisor” to the CEO Luca de Meofor the program Formula 1 of the group Renaultis clearly a shining example. In the ambitious intentions of the Milanese manager Alpineas declared just under a year ago, was to become “thethe French Ferrari”. A stable capable of warming the hearts of the fan transalpines. In just under a year he was relieved of his duties as team principal Otmar Szafnauerwhose witness (or burden?) has been assigned to Bruno Famin.
A similar fate was reserved for Pat Frywhose role was entrusted to the designer Matt Harmanfather of the failed Alpine A524. To ensure that nothing is missing, they have been placed side by side Gasly e Oconwhose frictions date back to the lower categories. Coexistence could only degenerate, it was a question of time, as demonstrated by the sensational disaster of Monaco which led to the end of the collaboration relationship between the team ed Esteban at the end of the season 2024. What better solution than to rely on the manager which gave lustre to the brand Renault winning the only world titles in 2005 e 2006?
The man who, knowing nothing about the category, at the request of Luciano Benettontook the reins of a stable from mid-field to lead it to the top of the world with Schumacher? The story of a successful man who, in order to continue riding the wave, committed some of the most despicable actions in the history of F1. Yes, because we can turn the tables as we wish, but in the mocking night of Singapore 2008 license plateit was not only the surveyor from Cuneo who lost face but also his historical collaborator Pat Symonds and the Renault which had enormous reputational damage.
The acquittal sentence of the 2013 it was a farce born from a tacit agreement with the FIA driven by Jean Todt: Briatore should never have set foot in F1 again. A popular saying goes: “When the saint’s day passes, the feast is over” and with the end of the mandate of Dead at the head of the FIA“Mister Billionaire” has become increasingly present in the paddock which has gradually welcomed back the (not so hidden) director of the greatest sporting fraud, leaving out anyone who tries to enter the Circus to give life to the dream of one of the drivers who wrote the “clean” history of the category: Mario Andretti
F1, Alpine and Renault: Flavio Briatore’s strategies
Holding our noses, what can the 74-year-old entrepreneur do and what is he already planning in the medium term to revive Renault’s fortunes? The first move concerns contact with the entourage of Carlos Sainz to check their availability. The first feedback they seem positive and with a clever communication strategy, Flavio he made it clear that he was surprised that a driver of the calibre of the Iberian has not yet found a place. Be careful: we are talking about the same person who called Jenson Button a “bulldozer”, while the English driver was winning the world title with Brawn GP.
The possibilities that Briatore can mock Adults e Seidl are very high. The engagement of Carlos would allow the reconstruction of the team using a reliable, experienced driver who knows how to win races and achieve important placings. A very analytical guy who rarely loses his temper, because it is clear to everyone that Alpine at least in principle it will not be able to provide a winning tool for the from Madrid. There are several pieces missing from the mosaic and, ironically, one of them is the heart of the car: the power unit..
There has been a rumor circulating for some time that Alpine is willing to become a team customer. An obscenity from the image point of view for the group Renault which however would simplify the costs would lead to a huge “saving” as all the costs. A hypothesis that would sanction the end of the historical operation of the factory of Viry-Châtillon which for years was the operational base where the program’s engines were built and managed F1 of the French house. Mercedes It could be an option having lost Aston Martin from 2026.
Having entrusted the team again to the manager Italian everything is possible, but it is clear that the credibility of Renault is at an all-time low. It cannot be ruled out that the board of directors of the French giant, now worn out by numerous years of failure, has entrusted Briatore with a different mandate than the one indicated in the official press releases.. The Italian entrepreneur may have been given the task of liquidating the team facilitating the sale to a third party who intends to enter into F1.
Moreover, disconnecting the division that has historically dealt with the power unit would represent an organizational streamlining for any potential buyers. F1 with a limited number of places it actually transforms even the disastrous one Alpine into a potential object of desire for many builders, interested in challenging the gotha of the motorsport. In the meantime the clever as well as questionable manager Italian is already fully involved in reviving the fortunes of the French team.
Author: Roberto Cecere – @robertofunoat
Images: Alpine – F1
