Briatore ever-present at Alpine: 'I'm very happy for him'
F1 News
Flavio Briatore oversaw many successful periods at the team currently name Alpine. The Italian joined when the team were still called Benetton and then later Renault, and won world championships together with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. Briatore still has the same passion, team principal Oliver Oakes shared following the Brazil GP.
After another rough start to the season, Alpine could surprise at Interlagos in the rain. Behind Max Verstappen, the Alpine drivers crossed the finish line in second and third position, in the order of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
According to Oliver Oakes, who joined the team after the Belgian GP this season, shared that Briatore was quick to join in on the celebrations, even as this time, the Italian did not travel to Sao Paulo. "He rang me as soon as the flag dropped. He said, ‘Why haven't you rang me yet?’ I said, ‘I've been a bit busy!’" Oakes shared.
Briatore left the competition after the notorious 'Crashgate' incident, but in May 2024, he returned to Alpine as a special supervisor. "He's been a big part of it. It's a great team. You can see how much it means to him to be here on the track. Even when he's not here, he's on the phone to me, texting me. I'm really happy for him, actually. You can see how much it means to him," Oakes concluded.
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