Former team principal Flavio Briatore says he sees no reason to return to Formula One at present, despite his ban on working in the sport having been overturned.
The Italian was banned following his involvement in the 2008 ‘crash-gate’ scandal, but he later sued the FIA, overturning the ban.
A fellow employee, Pat Symonds, was also given a five-year suspension, but he has chosen to return and is now working for the Marussia team.
Briatore though says he has no plans to return as it makes no sense ‘financially’.
“No, I don’t think so,” Briatore told F1 Racing. “Now I have a son, three years old; I’m working 20 hours a day for different businesses, different investments, different situations, both here and over in America; I’m very happy. This restaurant [Cipriani], for example, is the most popular in Monte Carlo.
“I was in Formula 1 for 20 years, won seven championships with two different teams, discovered the two big stars after Ayrton Senna: Schumi and Fernando. I know everything that’s going on and I know to have a team at this moment makes no sense financially. So, there is no reason for me to come back to F1.”
He does however remain connected with the sport through his management of Mark Webber and admits he is in regular contact with Bernie Ecclestone as well as others.
“I am speaking to Bernie a lot. Every day I am talking to somebody from F1. I keep in contact all the time; I never miss anything.”
Discussion about this post