Crashgate mastermind Flavio Briatore insists team principal used to be ‘much more friendly’ in F1 amidst recent controversies

Back in the day, team principals were known for their friendly relationships with other supremos across the paddock.

Crashgate mastermind Flavio Briatore insists team principal used to be ‘much more friendly’ in F1 amidst recent controversies

Flavio Briatore, via IMAGO

After a boom in F1’s growth, teams have adopted extreme organizational goals. This has caused its most visible form of personnel i.e., team principals, to remain professional and wander away from personal relationships on the grid. This cruel change in relationship dynamics has urged Flavio Briatore to claim that former alliances with team principals were much more friendly than in present times.

Flavio Briatore was a team principal back in the day and was responsible for nurturing future world-champion talent. However, his career was tainted by the Crashgate scandal, which led to his departure from F1 overall until he was recently hired by Alpine.

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The 74-year-old’s increased presence in the paddock made him realize the stark changes when he was heading the Enstone-based squad and lamented about it.

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I had a great relationship with all the team principals , I was in their motorhomes, except for the McLaren one with Ron Dennis. We had a party in Maranello with Luca (Cordero di Montezemolo, ed.). The situation between the team principals was much friendlier: we also argued because we wanted to win and have a better car, but we were much more human.
Flavio Briatore said in an interview as quoted by Formula Passion

The former team principal further had the following to add.

Now there is only technique and business, it is totally different. Stefano Domenicali does his best, he always tries to organize a dinner, but it is different. Before we joked, we spent time and holidays together.
Flavio Briatore said

Briatore recalled how his relationship with past team supremos used to be. However, he asserted that the business interests have changed this behavior, and the heads of the team now drive away from any personal relationships with other team principals, despite multiple attempts by FOM.

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Carlos Sainz, Fred Vasseur and Charles Leclerc (via IMAGO)

Zak Brown reveals how his relationship with Christian Horner has panned out over the years

The former pair of Guenther Steiner and Mattia Binotto were reckoned to be an example of team principals having a friendly relationship. Their friendship saw them take on Italian mountains and barbeque together on weekends. However, the current tense world of F1 has ruined multiple bonds and one such was the duo of Christian Horner and Zak Brown.

McLaren's Zak Brown and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner (via IMAGO)
Zak Brown and Christian Horner (via IMAGO)

The American revealed how they had formed multiple memories with Horner during their racing career.

I've known Christian for about 25, 30 years. We used to race against each other. I would say we used to get on... When someone breaches the cost cap, and doesn't seem to kind of take it seriously, that's kind of hitting the integrity and core of the sport. To me, it's not personal. It's protecting our sport.
Zak Brown said in an interview with BBC

However, this relationship was diluted with accountability issues, as he further explained.

And when I see things not consistent with our values, I'm going to speak up about it because it's important people understand where we're coming from. I realise that's not necessarily always going to be popular, or make friends with everyone in the pit lane, but as long as I'm friends with McLaren, our fans, our partners, that's what's most important to me.
Zak Brown said

The 52-year-old stated that his relation with the Brit wore off as the Red Bull supremo denied any responsibility when his team was found guilty. This behavior infuriated him, which caused a fallout between the two team principals.

Despite such instances, there have been multiple supremos who have had an amiable relationship with others. Moreover, Ferrari‘s Fred Vasseur is often reckoned as a friendly character within the paddock, as has celebrated other team’s victories with a similar passion.

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