Reports in the Italian and French media suggest that Flavio Briatore is in talks to take charge of struggling Alpine team.

Corriere dello Sport and L'Equipe both claim that the former Renault boss has had preliminary talks with Renault with a view to taking charge of the F1 project which at present appears to head from one disaster to another.

Briatore was appointed to run the Benetton F1 team by the clothing empire's founder, Luciano Benetton, in 1990, and continued to run the Enstone outfit when it was bought by Renault in 2002.

A controversial, flamboyant figure he guided the team to world championship titles with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso - whom he still manages - until he was fired for his involvement in 2008's Crashgate saga.

Initially banned from all FIA-sanctioned motorsport the ban was subsequently overturned.

Away from F1 his business empire includes the Billionaire brand along with beach clubs in Tuscany and Kenya and a restaurant in London. Between 2007 and 2007 he was also co-owner of a pharmaceutical company.

Earlier this year he had heart surgery to remove a benign tumour, which he subsequently revealed to have been "perfectly successful".

Almost from the moment Renault repackaged as Alpine at the start of 2021 the Enstone-based outfit has struggled, what with losing the likes of Alonso and an upcoming young driver by the name of Oscar Piastri, not to mention almost constant reshuffling of its management and senior technical staff.

The original five-year plan a distant memory, the French outfit only recently opened its 2024 points account, and still sits tenth in the standings with just 2 points to its name.

Just as one might think things couldn't get much worse, on Sunday Esteban Ocon collided with his teammate and is now heading to Canada with a 5-place grid penalty and the threat of being dropped by the French team which is already set to lose Pierre Gasly at season end also.

Other than a poor car, the French team suffers from an under-powered Renault engine, which has been shunned by those teams reliant on customer deals.

According to Corriere, Renault feels that nothing short of a complete overhaul is needed at Enstone, though some feel that the team is already at the stage where it needs - what Mohammed ben Sulayem might refer to as - "refreshing".

While the return of the Flav would bring some much needed colour to the paddock one cannot help but feel that Alpine is already past saving and even if it were possible would require Renault dipping deep into its pockets.

Then again... if the French manufacturer were to be willing to splash the cash, how's about Flav in charge, Fernando and Carlos Sainz driving and Adrian Newey doing the designing?

Mind you, they can forget Coca-Cola as a sponsor!

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Wokingchap, 03/06/2024 8:43

"I for one hope we never see this awful cunning character anywhere near F1. Some of us haven't forgotten the most unsporting scandalous situation ever in F1 he created .....and that's putting it mildly.
Just my opinion. "

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2. Posted by kenji, 31/05/2024 0:21

"If Briatore is the answer then that indicates that 'you're thinking outside the square' and that's a creative outlook I have always thought admirable. Good luck with that."

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3. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 30/05/2024 21:37

"If Briatore is the answer, you’re asking the wrong question. "

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4. Posted by Spindoctor, 30/05/2024 12:33

"Another day, another 'DTS' headline.....

Formula 1 ( & I guess Renault) has to ask itself if they are interested in anything as outlandish as "Sport" & sportsmanship. Briatore is 'colourful' but so was Don Corleone. Ignoring such distasteful matters & Briatore's "interesting" track-record there's little evidence to suggest he has the skill to drag Renault\Alpine from where it is to the more exalted status of "also ran".

Renault could simply shut up shop & flog it to Andretti for what it's worth (not much) or if they intend to keep embarrassing themselves, buy-in some top-notch management, Engineering, Technical & driving smarts..... The flaw in that idea seems pretty clear"

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5. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 30/05/2024 1:54

"The well-tanned Italian would make things more entertaining at least."

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6. Posted by kenji, 30/05/2024 0:25

"The fact that the team was rebranded with a name that actually means 'zippedy doo dah' in the motoring world it seemed, to me, to signify that if it went off the rails then the name Renault would not suffer the ignominy of a full factory team being beaten. The continuous coming and going of senior people has left Renault without any consistency, a key ingredient to success, especially in F1. Whether or not they stay now is certainly an option and maybe there is a connection with Andretti for the future. What is a certainty is that Ocon has to be banished. His career is littered with altercations, especially with his team mate. He's now in his eighth season! I would welcome Flavio back as TP or whatever, he has flare and a great understanding of what it takes for success. Let's face it, could it get any worse....? Doohan and Gasly would make a great pairing for the future if there is one for Renault."

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7. Posted by Chester, 29/05/2024 18:25

"Welcome back! Alpine could use a bit of spice these days."

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Briatore to return to Enstone?

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