FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[darwin dali]

ESPNF1:

Former Benetton and Renault team principal Flavio Briatore says he doesn't want to return to Formula One because it "makes no sense financially".

Having initially been banned from Formula One for life for his part in the 2008 Crashgate scandal, Briatore's ban was subsequently overturned on appeal. However, in an interview with F1 Racing magazine, Briatore says he has no motivation to return to the sport.

"No, I don't think so," Briatore said. "Now I have a son, three years old; I'm working 20 hours a day for different businesses, different investments, different situations, both here and over in America; I'm very happy. This restaurant [Cipriani], for example, is the most popular in Monte Carlo.

"I was in Formula 1 for 20 years, won seven championships with two different teams, discovered the two big stars after Ayrton Senna: Schumi and Fernando. I know everything that's going on and I know to have a team at this moment makes no sense financially. So, there is no reason for me to come back to F1."

Despite his lack of desire to return, Briatore admits he is still in regular contact with Bernie Ecclestone to understand what happens in the sport.

"I am speaking to Bernie a lot. Every day I am talking to somebody from F1. I keep in contact all the time; I never miss anything."

[andrew]

Any excuse for the photos eh?

[What's Burning?]

what's a little cheating between friends?

[Ichabod]

Between Bernie and Flavio it's probably a competition

[What's Burning?]

This guy's got a really big set of balls to fill out that thong.

ESPNF1; Flavio Briatore says he has it in writing that he was not involved in the Singapore Crashgate scandal in 2008.

As team principal at the time, Briatore was banned from Formula One for life after his Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jnr deliberately crashed in order to help team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race. Briatore later got the ban reduced on appeal and - even though he has not returned to the sport since - he told F1 Racing in an extensive interview that his successful appeal proved he had no involvement.

"I feel the same," Briatore said. "The court in Paris was very clear; I was not involved at all. That is what the letter said."

Asked if he had proof in writing that he had no involvement, Briatore replied: "Yes, it's official.

"There was no proof that I was involved in Singapore. Which is the reason I won in court. I've nothing more to say; I say it already at the time. If what people claimed about Singapore was true, then why did I fire Piquet in the middle of the next season? Why take that risk? Why not renew the contract because it would be 30 or 40 per cent less money and there would be no trouble if all this was true. I had Fernando back and, for me, the second driver was not important.

"I respect what was said in the court. After that, I have an agreement with Jean Todt that the FIA will not appeal. I stay away with no problem at all. I had the moral responsibility because I was in charge of the team. But now it is gone."

[LewEngBridewell]

He was a colourful character in his time, but that events of Singapore 2008 will never be forgotten.

Time to find new colourful characters!

[darwin dali]

He was a colourful character in his time, but that events of Singapore 2008 will never be forgotten.

Time to find new colourful characters!

That's why I started the thread in the Formula 1 History section

[LewEngBridewell]

He was a colourful character in his time, but that events of Singapore 2008 will never be forgotten.

Time to find new colourful characters!

That's why I started the thread in the Formula 1 History section

Ooooo you're a clever one