F1 stalwarts Wolff and Vasseur show no surprise at Briatore’s return, stirring debate on its impact.
Is Flavio Briatore’s return good for F1’s image? Is it seen as a joke, a threat, or good news by other team principals? Or do they welcome it with indifference?
Is it also morally legitimate for the man from Crashgate to return as executive advisor to CEO Luca de Meo?
Yes, at least for Toto Wolff: time has passed, and the Mercedes F1 boss believes that everyone deserves forgiveness.
“We need to provide the opportunity to recover from such situations. I’ve known Flavio as an extremely intelligent businessman. He has a great deal of Formula 1 expertise. All the feedback I’ve received over the past decade, during which I’ve been in much closer contact with him – and I have a friendly relationship with him – has been helpful in some way. He brings a lot of experience and expertise, with his 40 years in Formula 1. And I think everyone deserves the chance to come back.”
“And for me, it’s clear, having another intelligent mind at Alpine, someone who can simplify things and bring common sense… Given Alpine’s current situation, it’s an advantage.”
Fred Vasseur is a bit more cautious than Toto Wolff about Briatore’s return: he mainly talks about the competitiveness of Alpine F1, not the moral choice that was made.
“First of all, I don’t want to comment on what happened in another team. I have enough to do with my own. But overall, I think it’s probably a step forward for Alpine. And it’s ultimately a good thing for F1 that Alpine is back in the battle.”
“We know the history and I think he has paid the price – and if now he is allowed to return, he can come back.”
Finally, at Stake F1, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, the team representative, also prefers to focus on the bright sides of Briatore’s career – including his three constructors’ titles with Benetton and Renault.
“Of course, I agree with what Toto and Fred said. I never judge someone I don’t personally know and with whom I haven’t had a relationship, so I’m not in a position to judge Flavio. I can only look at the results he has achieved in Formula 1 and the contributions he has made to Formula 1 in recent years on the commercial side, bringing in sponsors and new tracks that have been important for the development of Formula 1. If he is able to join the team, it means his ban is over.”
“We must therefore look to the future and give people the opportunity to contribute. We need intelligent people in Formula 1. And Flavio, we can say he is intelligent.”
F1 Circles React Calmly to Briatore’s Comeback F1 Circles React Calmly to Briatore’s Comeback
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