In a rather unusual move to help the organization get to the front of Formula One, the Alpine F1 Team announced on Friday ahead of the Spaniah Grand Prix that former Benetton and Renault Team Principal Flavio Briatore has joined or return to the Enstone-based outfit as Executive Advisor.
In a statement, Alpine said:
BWT Alpine F1 Team announces Flavio Briatore as Executive Advisor
BWT Alpine F1 Team can confirm that Flavio Briatore has been appointed by Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo as his Executive Advisor for the Formula One Division.
Briatore along with than Renault F1 Team Technical Director Pat Symonds were famously banned from working in Formula One following their roles in what was known as the Crashgate scandal of 2008 at that year’s Singapore Grand Prix where they ordered than driver, Nelson Piquet to crash bringing out the safety car allowing their other driver Fernando Alonso to capitalize and take victory in the race.
While Briatore’s life time ban from being involved in Formula One was lifted by a French appeals court, the whole scandal cast a long shadow over what had been an incredible career for the outspoken Italian who helped guide Michael Schumacher to his first two World Championships.