أرشيف وسم ‘ Flavio Briatore ’
Ferrari should consider adding a UK base, according to former F1 team boss Flavio Briatore. The Italian team is believed to have offered to double Adrian Newey's current salary to lure him from Red Bull, with some estimating the potential pay-day at $40 million. But one reason the Briton said 'no' could be because he would have to move his family from the UK's so-called 'motor sport valley' all the way to northern Italy. "I have always said that logistics is one of Ferrari's problems," […]
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says that the sport is set to travel to Azerbaijan for the first time, in either 2015 or 2016. A report in Wednesday's Daily Mail suggests that the deal for the event is being facilitated by former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore. The race would take place around the streets of Azerbaijan's capital, Baku. "We're going to Azerbaijan," Ecclestone said. "The people out there [in Azerbaijan] are talking about holding a race in 2015." "That may be a bit soon […]
Heikki Kovalainen has responded to his former manager Flavio Briatore, after the Italian claimed Lotus should not have signed him. Drafted in to replace the injured Kimi Raikkonen for the last two races of 2013, fellow Finn Kovalainen initially impressed in Austin last weekend but finished the US grand prix a disappointing 15th. Briatore, Kovalainen's former manager and Renault team boss, reportedly observed that Lotus clearly got its choice wrong, and should have promoted reserve driver Davide Valsecchi instead. "The US grand prix showed that […]
Red Bull has confirmed a meeting about Fernando Alonso took place with the Ferrari driver's manager at the Hungaroring last weekend. Initially, the sensational story of a potential move to Red Bull for the two-time world champion was dismissed by some, as Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad also handles the career of rising Red Bull-backed youngster Carlos Sainz jr. But when told his meeting with Garcia was obviously simply about the 18-year-old Sainz, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told Sport Bild: "Nonsense. "Why would […]
Although competitive throughout the weekend, Felipe Massa looks set to maintain his role as Ferrari's 'number 2'. The Brazilian was running ahead of highly rated teammate Fernando Alonso in Melbourne until the second round of pistops, when it was the Spaniard called in for service first. "Felipe should not be at all happy," former Renault boss Flavio Briatore is quoted as saying by Italian media. After the race, in which he finished fourth to Alonso's second, Massa told Spanish television Antena 3: "Of course you […]
Mark Webber looks set to struggle to keep his Red Bull race seat beyond 2013. Granted just a one-year contract for a seventh consecutive season at the team, the 36-year-old Australian is already on notice by Red Bull's tough Dr Helmut Marko. Now, Austrian Marko has made clear Red Bull was not happy with Webber's driving at the 2012 Interlagos finale, when teammate Sebastian Vettel was fighting for the title against Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Indeed, Flavio Briatore - still involved with the management of Webber's […]
Lotus team principal Eric Bouiller expressed his relief at his team eventually winning a Grand Prix. Lotus had seen wins slip through their grasp in Bahrain and Hungary, before Kimi Raikkonen finally took victory in Abu Dhabi. "I have one word first of all: Great", said Bouiller. "Then there are many words such as ‘relief’ and ‘deserved’. It’s obviously a very well deserved result for the team. I’m pleased for Kimi and he did a very good job. We’ve been pushing very hard all season […]
Flavio Briatore thinks Ferrari should sign Felipe Massa for another season. The Italian team is openly undecided over its choice of teammate for Fernando Alonso next year, but former Renault boss Briatore said: "I would keep Massa for another year". "Massa is a good driver but he should never compare his times with those of Alonso," Italian Briatore is quoted by Corriere dello Sport. Briatore, who remains involved in Alonso's management and was in charge at Renault when the Spaniard won his back-to-back titles, baulked […]
Jean Todt has revealed he did not attempt to sign Fernando Alonso during his time as Ferrari boss due to an earlier betrayal. The Frenchman, who is now the FIA president, reigned over Ferrari from the 90s until 2008. At the end of 2006, he chose Kimi Raikkonen as the retiring 'number 1' Michael Schumacher's replacement, even though Spaniard Alonso - now Ferrari's long term hope - was also on the market. Alonso was only subsequently brought to Ferrari by Todt's successor Stefano Domenicali, and […]
Yet another weekend has passed in which the pre-race favourite, Lotus, failed to deliver. But Jaime Alguersuari thinks the Enstone based team remains poised to shine in the very near future. "From my point of view, I still believe that they have the most competitive package, both mechanically and aerodynamically," said the former Toro Rosso driver. "They have great traction and very little degradation of the rear tyres. It is unfortunate that here they were not able to get the most from it but you […]
Heikki Kovalainen is looking for Caterham to move into the midfield, according to his new management company. Having handled his own career in the wake of Flavio Briatore's demise, Finn Kovalainen recently signed up with IMG, the sports and entertainment management giant. The 30-year-old has rebuilt his reputation since 2010 in the wake of mixed tenures for top teams Renault and McLaren. According to IMG Motorsport's head of clients Martin Anayi, Kovalainen is now regarded by Formula One team bosses up and down pitlane as […]
Mark Webber might have signed a pre-contractual agreement with Ferrari, one of Spain's leading F1 correspondents has revealed. Raymond Blancafort, writing for El Mundo Deportivo, referred to widespread speculation in the paddock about Sergio Perez's likely future alongside Fernando Alonso. "There may be a pre-contract," he said, "but between Ferrari and Webber." Australian Webber was also linked with Ferrari last year, before Red Bull decided to sign him up for another single season. The 35-year-old was overshadowed by his teammate Sebastian Vettel last year, but […]