P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Riccardo Patrese has made a stunning suggestion about his former Benetton boss.
Former Benetton driver Riccardo Patrese compared Flavio Briatore to a World War II bomb, stating that he can “explode at any minute” and does not contribute positively to a driver’s morale. Patrese, who raced for Briatore in 1993, believes this puts current Alpine driver Franco Colapinto in a vulnerable position.
With Briatore taking on more prominent leadership roles at Alpine after the sudden departure of Oliver Oakes, he orchestrated Colapinto’s move from Williams at the expense of Jack Doohan’s seat after the Miami Grand Prix.
Despite Briatore’s instructions to Colapinto to be fast, score points, and avoid crashes, the young driver has struggled to perform consistently, with no points scored and notable incidents in the first six rounds of the season.
Colapinto’s situation is precarious, as Briatore’s unpredictable nature leaves the possibility of a lineup change or Doohan’s reinstatement on the table, although any decisions are unlikely to be made before the summer break. Patrese emphasizes that “Colapinto in this moment is not safe” due to his performance issues and potential conflicts with Briatore.
