You'd have to fear for Bruno Famin... Flavio Briatore is one of the most successful F1 team bosses and the man is not cut out to play second fiddle, let alone to such a lightweight. The sooner Flavio takes full reign the better things will get. Why Gasly was in such a hurry to sign a multi-year deal the minute Flavio walked in the door. As for Mercedes engines, I wouldn't be too sure about that. Never underestimate the power of Ferrari, they're about to lose one of their own engine customers for 2026 and the prospect of Mercedes gaining even more influence will surely set alarm bells off in Modena, F1 is all about politics. Oh, and don't forget Renault's ambition to make Alpine the "French Ferrari", what better way than shoving a Ferrari engine up the Alpine's behind? 😉 And we really shouldn't hold Flavio's past transgressions against him... King Charles recently awarded a Knighthood to one of the most notorious cheats in F1, has he not? 😂
So, in the FIA world, lifetime ban is not. In major league baseball, a lifetime ban really is a lifetime ban. Just ask Pete Rose, the player/manager who holds the record for number of hits.
Allpain has applied the "Better Call Briatore" card. Jokes aside,i have hopes on what Briatore can bring into Alpine or whatever the team will be named in the future, he was one of the big names back during the Ecclestone Era of F1 (a thing that not all teams have) and in a moment of struggle like the one at Alpine,they need someone that can make things work,or at least, someone with real experience in how to make things work.
It says a lot about the state of Alpine F1 that they felt it necessary to bring a cheater and previously banned person into the team. Before you dismiss that as "what's past is past," know that the scandal will always loom over the team as long as Briatore is there--perhaps longer. How does anyone know he's not up to his old shenanigans again? Just trust him, bro? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Alpine F1 have damaged the integrity of their racing programme with this move. Maybe it will all turn out fine, but that's a big risk Renault apparently felt they needed to take. I don't know whether Briatore's stint at Alpine will be successful by any measure. I don't think he'd be dense enough to try any sort of shenanigans again, large or small. It largely will come down to exactly what degree and range of authority he has within the team. What does an "executive advisor" do anyway? People are already suspicious that he's running the team from the shadows, but is that really true? Until it's clear how Briatore's new role works with or within the team, I'm not sure anyone can say with any certainty whether his stint will be successful or not.
