Flavio Briatore, former Renault team chief, admits that he doesn’t have in mind returning to Formula 1 soon. After the scandal of crashgate in Singapore 2008 Briatore has been seen again in the paddock, but it seems that his appearances will continue as an invited guest.
“I’ve been in F1 for 20 years, I won seven championships with two different teams. I discovered two of the biggest stars after Ayrton Senna: Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. I am aware of everything that is going on and I know that having a team now does not make sense financially speaking. Hence, there is no reason why I should return to Formula 1.” Briatore also said he is “happy” at the moment with his different business and taking care of his three years old son.
Flavio also spoke about the incident that kept him out of F1, once again defending the position of himself not giving orders to Nelson Piquet of crashing to Fernando Alonsoso that he could not get the victory that weekend. He says he feels calm about it, and finally his appeal to the judgment that condemned him to stay away from the Formula 1 lifetime was accepted. “Besides, why would I risk in firing Piquet in mid-season knowing that there could have been consequences? Fernando was back in the team and I did not care who was the second driver at all.”