Briatore, 74, named Alpine adviser

Former Renault Formula 1 squad leader Flavio Briatore has been appointed executive advisor to nan Alpine team.

The move marks nan return of nan 74-year-old to nan squad from which he was forced to resign successful 2009 successful nan aftermath of nan contention complete nan fixing of nan 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Briatore has been appointed by Luca de Meo, main executive serviceman of Alpine's genitor institution Renault, to "predominantly attraction connected apical level areas of nan team", a connection said.

It added that his roles would see "scouting apical talents and providing insights connected nan driver market, challenging nan existing task by assessing nan existent building and advising connected immoderate strategical matters wrong nan sport".

Briatore's recruitment is nan latest improvement astatine a squad that has been done a play of guidance turmoil successful nan past year.

Since July 2023, nan erstwhile main executive Laurent Rossi has been dismissed and Alpine person mislaid a squad principal, sporting director, method director, caput of aerodynamics, operations head and engineering consultant.

Alpine person besides slipped successful competitiveness, falling from 4th to sixth crossed betwixt 2022 and 2023 earlier starting this twelvemonth pinch 1 of nan slowest cars successful nan field. They dishonesty eighth of 10 teams successful nan title aft 9 races this season.

De Meo is attempting to restructure nan squad nether caller main Bruno Famin, and Alpine person precocious hired respected erstwhile McLaren and Ferrari technologist David Sanchez arsenic their executive method director.

Briatore's return to a starring executive domiciled successful F1 completes his rehabilitation pursuing nan alleged 'crashgate' scandal, erstwhile Renault driver Nelson Piquet deliberately collapsed successful nan 2008 Singapore Grand Prix connected nan instructions of his team.

The incident advantaged his team-mate Fernando Alonso, who went connected to triumph nan race.

Briatore was banned by governing assemblage nan FIA from its events indefinitely aft he was recovered blameworthy of orchestrating nan incident.

He has ever denied engagement - and successful 2010, France's precocious tribunal overturned that ban.

Since then, Briatore has retained a peripheral domiciled successful F1, chiefly done his engagement successful nan guidance of Alonso's career.

Before 'crashgate', Briatore had carved a estimation arsenic 1 of nan sport's astir effective managers.

Briatore, who was convicted of fraud successful Italy successful nan 1980s, became a successful head for nan manner marque Benetton successful nan US, and nan institution appointed him leader of their F1 squad successful 1988.

Briatore was instrumental successful forging nan team's climb to nan apical of nan sport, winning drivers’ titles pinch Michael Schumacher successful 1994 and 1995.

His stewardship was marked pinch controversy, particularly successful nan 1994 season, erstwhile nan team’s car was recovered to person forbidden traction power package buried successful a concealed paper system. Benetton were not penalised because nan FIA could find nary impervious it had been used.

He was replaced arsenic leader of Benetton successful 1997, and from 1998-2000 led nan Renault-affiliated Supertec institution that supplied engines to F1 teams. He was brought backmost arsenic managing head and squad main erstwhile Renault bought Benetton F1 successful 2000.

That began different play of success, culminating successful winning nan drivers' and constructors' titles pinch Alonso successful 2005 and 2006.