BRIATORE MAKES F1 COMEBACK AS ALPINE'S EXECUTIVE ADVISER

BARCELONA, June 21 (Bernama-dpa) -- Former Benetton director and ex-Renault team principal Flavio Briatore has returned to Formula One in an official capacity as Alpine's executive adviser, the French team announced on Friday, reported German news agency (dpa).

"Alpine F1 Team can confirm that Flavio Briatore has been appointed by Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo as his executive adviser for the Formula One Division," they said in a statement.

The Renault subsidiary, eighth in the constructors' championship with five points, is looking for a way out of the crisis following chaotic months. Briatore, who until recently is an adviser to two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, is now expected to provide decisive impetus. 

Among other things, he is to challenge "the existing project by assessing the current structure and advising on some strategic matters within the sport", Alpine said.

As Benetton team boss, Briatore was responsible for bringing in Michael Schumacher, who won two world titles with the team in 1994 and 1995 before becoming a F1 legend. He also led Renault - since 2021 rebranded as Alpine - to the constructors' and drivers' championship title with Alonso.

Briatore is considered a controversial figure, having been convicted in Italy on several fraud charges in the 1980s, receiving two prison sentences, though the convictions were later extinguished by an amnesty.

In 2009, he was forced to resign from Renault due to his involvement in race fixing at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, known as "Crashgate". 

At the 2008 Singapore GP, Nelson Piquet Jr, at that time racing for Renault, crashed into the wall at Turn 17 on the 14th lap of the race. The accident prompted the deployment of the safety car.

But what had initially appeared to be a simple yet strange mistake by an inexperienced driver, soon erupted into a major controversy that played a crucial role in the outcome of the 2008 drivers’ championship.

After ruling body FIA conducted its own investigation, Briatore was banned indefinitely from any events sanctioned by the organisation, although this ban was later overturned by a French court.

-- BERNAMA-dpa