Briatore reminisces about F1’s past warmth and unity, contrasting it with today’s stark, business-driven environment.
Flavio Briatore disclosed his realisation of the evolving professionalism within Formula 1 when Christian Horner visited the new Alpine F1 motorhome at Spa. Red Bull’s director shared a remark that took him by surprise.
“We had the new motorhome at Spa,” Briatore stated.
“It’s the Alpine motorhome, Alpine as in the mountains, somewhat like a chalet, designed by Philippe Starck. Everyone was curious because the interior is completely different.”
“Christian called me up to ask, ‘Flavio, may I come and see your motorhome?’ I told him, ‘Absolutely,’ and we spent 20 or 30 minutes together. We had a coffee, and Christian told me it was the first time in many years that he had visited another Formula 1 motorhome.”
The Italian reminisced about experiencing Formula 1 quite differently during his time with Benetton and Renault: “Back then, with Eddie, I would go to his motorhome and he would come to mine. We would visit the Ferrari motorhome.”
“Except for Ron Dennis—I never went to Ron Dennis’s motorhome—team principals had an excellent relationship. I remember the party at Maranello with Luca [di Montezemolo]. We had lunch together, and the relations between the team principals were much more friendly.”
“Now, it’s completely different. We always fought together because we wanted to win, we wanted to have a better car, and we wanted everything.”
“But I believe it was more human, I don’t know, we were much more respectful of the human aspect and what people are now looking at is only technical, only business, only this and that.”
“I believe we can return to that friendly situation, Stefano [Domenicali – CEO of F1] is doing his best because Stefano always tries to organise dinners and meetings with people, but the feeling is different.”
A “Completely Different” F1
Beside him, Eddie Jordan, a former team boss in F1 during Briatore’s early days, pointed out that unlike today, team principals were far more inclined to befriend one another.
“One of the first times I met Flavio was with Michael Flatley of Riverdance, I think it was Naomi [Campbell] and Flavio, Bernie [Ecclestone] came with Slavica [Ecclestone’s ex-wife], we had Pierce Brosnan and Helena Christensen.”
“We went to a ball, whichever it was, and ended up dining together. I mean, those kinds of things just don’t happen with team directors anymore.”
“When people ask me what was the best time of my life, is it now with Formula 1? I have to say the friendships I had back in the 1990s far surpass what I see today.”
“We joked, we spent time together – holiday or not. Now, I believe it’s completely different. I don’t know if it’s better or worse, but it’s different.”
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Horner’s Rare Visit Ignites Nostalgia in F1’s Briatore Horner’s Rare Visit Ignites Nostalgia in F1’s Briatore. f1 2024 Horner’s Rare Visit Ignites Nostalgia in F1’s Briatore
