P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Meet Flavio Briatore – Alpine’s ‘democratic dictator’ who fires ‘bad people’
Flavio Briatore’s return to Formula 1 as an executive advisor with Alpine has undoubtedly added more color to the sport, whether fans love him or not.
Since his comeback nearly a year ago, Briatore has already made a significant impact at Alpine, with team principal Bruno Famin stepping down just over a month after his return, despite the official reason not being linked to Briatore’s arrival.
The Alpine team has seen mixed fortunes, with a positive end to the 2024 season raising hopes for a top-five finish, but the 2025 campaign has seen them languishing near the bottom of the standings.
Ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, there have been further changes within the team, including the replacement of rookie Jack Doohan with reserve driver Colapinto and the departure of team principal Oliver Oakes.
Briatore’s renowned leadership style, often described as a “democratic dictator,” has been a hallmark of his career, which began in 1990 with Benetton Formula and included successful stints with Renault F1 and controversial moments with drivers like Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.
