Flavio Briatore, Alpine executive advisor and controversial former Renault F1 boss, says he is not convinced by Ferrari's choice to bet on Lewis Hamilton.
Since January 1, 2025, Lewis Hamilton has been a Ferrari driver. After twelve seasons driving for Mercedes, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion joined the “Scuderia”. Flavio Briatore, executive advisor of Alpine, does not approve of Ferrari's choice to have bet on the 40-year-old Briton. “Of course I respect such decisions, but I wonder if it makes sense”distills Briatore in the columns of the German daily Bild.
“Ferrari had two great drivers in Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. I don’t understand why this duo was separated”Briatore is surprised. Sainz, 30 years old and 5th in the 2024 season ahead of Mercedes drivers George Russell (6th) and Hamilton (7th), was not retained by Ferrari and joined the Williams team. “It's not my job to judge, but if I had had this responsibility at Ferrari, I would not have signed Lewis”summarizes Briatore.
Briatore, former sulphurous director in F1
Flavio Briatore, 74, made his name as director of Benetton Formula (1989-1997) then of Renault F1 Team (2000-2009), winning three constructors' world championship titles in 1995, 2005 and 2006. He had was banned for life from F1 in 2009 for his responsibility in a cheating affair, with the fake accident of Nelson Piquet Jr at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. The sanction was lifted in 2012 following various legal battles. He was also prosecuted and acquitted for tax fraud in 2022, after the seizure and auction of his yacht. The Italian joined Alpine as an executive advisor last summer.
