Briatore wanted to preserve Renault

It is finally through the back door that Flavio Briatore leaves Renault. Throughout his career, the whimsical Italian never ceased to arouse the most contradictory passions. His success, his outspokenness and his muscular methods got the better of his position at Renault, which had nevertheless given him full powers a few years ago.

Having left on his own, Flavio Briatore no longer had a choice. The scandal of the “Renault affair” having grown to such an extent, without being able to be denied by solid evidence, the departure of the team director had become inevitable. “ I just tried to save the team », Explained the Italian manager to the British press. “ It was my duty and that?s why I had to stop there. »

The gesture is not trivial, however, for a man who defended himself at the start of the week from any manipulation. “ It would have been up to Piquet to accept or refuse to mess up, Briatore released in the columns of AUTOhebdo this week. If I tell a guy to go attack a bank, he is free to decide whether to attack it or not. » Despite everything, if the Brazilian had the choice or not to follow the prerogatives of his team director, the latter was not able to hide for long behind his “good” faith.

For supporters of the Renault team and for French motorsport, all that remains is to hope that the departure of those responsible in this affair results in clemency from the FIA ​​World Council. Because a very heavy sanction would be a blow to a team which does not need it, given the climate and the sporting situation of Renault. F1 team.