“Flavio Briatore, in his capacity as long-serving ambassador to Formula 1, will continue to support us in building our relationships with existing and potential promoters and partners and developing commercial and entertainment partnerships so we can continue to grow this incredible sport A Formula 1 spokesperson said.
The businessman has become known as the team principal of Benetton – with two world titles for Michael Schumacher – and Renault, with which Fernando Alonso won the title in 2005 and 2006. Briatore was also manager of, among others, Alonso.
Briatore is said to have ordered second driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix so that Alonso could make the most of the ensuing safety car situation. Briatore was fired by Renault in 2009 and was given crash gate a lifelong suspension from the FIA motorsport federation. However, that sanction was later declared invalid by a judge.
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