1. Flavio Briatore was forced out of Renault and received a lifetime ban from F1 after the 2008 "Crashgate" scandal, although a French court subsequently overturned the ban.
50 Facts About Flavio Briatore
1. 2.
Flavio Briatore started his career as a restaurant manager and insurance salesman in Italy.
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Flavio Briatore was convicted in Italy on several fraud charges in the 1980s, receiving two prison sentences, though the convictions were later extinguished by an amnesty.
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Flavio Briatore spent several years as a fugitive in the Virgin Islands and the United States, where he set up several United Colors of Benetton franchises, paving the way for his role at Benetton's F1 team.
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Flavio Briatore was born in Verzuolo near Cuneo in the Maritime Alps to a family of elementary school teachers.
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Flavio Briatore found early work as a ski instructor and restaurant manager.
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Flavio Briatore opened a restaurant named Tribula, which was his own nickname.
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Flavio Briatore then moved to Milan and worked for Finanziaria Generale Italia at the Italian stock exchange.
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Flavio Briatore did not return to the EU until his convictions were extinguished by amnesty.
10.
In 2010, a Turin court ordered Flavio Briatore rehabilitated, which by Italian Criminal Code results in the extinction "of any criminal effect of the conviction".
11.
In 1999, the Corriere della Sera wrongfully reported that Flavio Briatore had been arrested in Nairobi on suspicion of fraud relating to real estate in Kenya.
12.
Flavio Briatore successfully sued the newspaper for libel and received compensation.
13.
Flavio Briatore became very wealthy, as he received a cut of every franchising agreement.
14.
At first, Flavio Briatore was not involved with the team.
15.
Flavio Briatore did not attend a race until the 1988 Australian Grand Prix.
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Flavio Briatore set about making the team competitive, hiring and quickly firing engineer John Barnard.
17.
Flavio Briatore lured rookie driver Michael Schumacher from the Jordan team after his first F1 race in 1991.
18.
The Times observed that Flavio Briatore knew Schumacher could be the best and built a team around him at Benetton.
19.
Reportedly, Schumacher had signed a letter of intent to sign "a contract" with Jordan for 1991 to 1993, but once Flavio Briatore grew interested, Benetton and Schumacher's management interpreted the letter as allowing Schumacher to satisfy his obligation to Jordan with non-racing contracts.
20.
Flavio Briatore won a legal battle with Jordan, allowing him to sign the German.
21.
Flavio Briatore ousted Benetton driver Roberto Moreno to make room for Schumacher, arguing that Benetton's deal with Moreno only obliged Flavio Briatore to supply him with a chassis, not an engine.
22.
Flavio Briatore convinced Piquet to return by threatening to replace him with Alex Zanardi.
23.
Late in 1994, Flavio Briatore purchased the ailing Ligier team thereby acquiring its Renault engine supply.
24.
Flavio Briatore passed operational management of Ligier to Tom Walkinshaw and took on complete management of Benetton.
25.
Flavio Briatore purchased a share of the Minardi team in 1996, but after failing to sell it to British American Tobacco as he had hoped, he sold out to fellow owners Giancarlo Minardi and Gabriele Rumi.
26.
Flavio Briatore returned as managing director and team principal, replacing Rocco Benetton.
27.
Flavio Briatore has a reputation as a talent-scout and probably his greatest 'find' has been Fernando Alonso.
28.
In 2003, Flavio Briatore fired race-driver Jenson Button and replaced him with Alonso.
29.
When he replaced Button, the outcry was huge but Flavio Briatore stated, "time will tell if I am wrong".
30.
Flavio Briatore acted as manager for Mark Webber, Jarno Trulli, Nelson Piquet Jr.
31.
Flavio Briatore was duly confirmed on 6 September 2006 as staying at Renault for the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
32.
Flavio Briatore replaced Alonso with Kovalainen for 2007, saying "with Kovalainen, I hope to find the anti-Alonso".
33.
Flavio Briatore resigned as team principal of Renault due to a race fixing scandal.
34.
The FIA stated that it would not renew any superlicence granted to Flavio Briatore-managed drivers, effectively barring him from managing drivers who participate in any competition that is under the FIA's authority.
35.
Flavio Briatore later said he was "distraught" at the FIA's action and sued the FIA in French courts to clear his name.
36.
Flavio Briatore has always spoken out about his desires to see F1 provide better entertainment.
37.
Flavio Briatore returned to the former Renault F1 team in May 2024, after being courted by Renault CEO Luca de Meo.
38.
On 6 May 2025, following the mid-season resignation of team principal Oliver Oakes, Flavio Briatore assumed the duties of team principal.
39.
Flavio Briatore has developed a diverse portfolio of business interests outside Formula 1, many of which revolve around fashion.
40.
Flavio Briatore created the Billionaire nightclub brand in 1998 and owns a club in Sardinia; in August 2012, he opened another Billionaire club in Marbella under that name along with an haute couture line, Billionaire Italian Couture.
41.
Flavio Briatore operates a Tuscan beach club and Lion in the Sun, a holiday resort in Kenya.
42.
Flavio Briatore was given a refitted interior designed by Celeste dell'Anna and a blue exterior.
43.
The yacht was then chartered by a number of individuals including Flavio Briatore, who named it as the most extravagant present he had ever bought himself.
44.
In 2007, Flavio Briatore was linked to a takeover of English Championship football club Queens Park Rangers from a Monaco-based consortium led by Gianni Paladini.
45.
On 1 September 2007, it was officially announced that Flavio Briatore had bought the club.
46.
On 7 November 2007, Flavio Briatore completed his takeover of QPR together with Ecclestone.
47.
In 1998, Flavio Briatore became engaged to supermodel Naomi Campbell; they were involved in an on-again-off-again relationship until their separation in 2003.
48.
In 2009, Flavio Briatore allowed Seal to adopt his daughter and change her name.
49.
Flavio Briatore married the 'Wonderbra' model Elisabetta Gregoraci on 14 June 2008.
50.
In 2019, Flavio Briatore founded the political party Movimento del Fare.