🛑Outside Line: F1’s top scumbag destroying Doohan in plain sight

Flavio Briatore is a disgrace to Formula 1. Flavio Briatore is a scumbag. He always has been, and he always will be. Motorsport’s greatest embarrassment was caused by him. A serial cheater, a fraudster and convicted criminal. And I will tell him that face-to-face.

Yet somehow, these days in all spheres of life, those things now seem to enhance a CV, but that won’t stop those of us who love Formula 1 from calling out a severe injustice — particularly when no one else seems willing to do so. If the media in Japan are real journalists, they will surely take up this case. Because what is happening right now at Alpine under Briatore’s watch is wholly unacceptable from any perspective, including sporting.

Let’s be clear: I believe (as do many) everything ongoing within the Alpine Formula 1 programme is being dictated by Briatore. Oliver Oakes was headhunted by Briatore to toe the line. Oakes may be the face of the team, but the 74-year-old Italian dinosaur is the heart and engine behind everything — what happens and what doesn’t.

This has to do with Jack Doohan. His story is well known. The pressure on him has been relentless from the very first day Alpine announced it had secured the services of ‘Flavour of F1 2024’ Franco Colapinto — handpicked by Briatore from Williams — it was a clear signal of intent.

Colapinto was installed as reserve driver, and from that point on, Doohan’s days in the seat have been numbered. By all accounts, Briatore does not want him in that car. He wants Franco. Understood. Point taken. But to go about it this way — to throw Doohan under the bus ahead of the most daunting Grand Prix on the calendar — is a disgraceful kick in the teeth to sportsmanship.

Never Forget: Jules Bianchi

This is Suzuka, the same circuit where Jules Bianchi lost his life a decade ago. Let’s not forget that. Motorsport is dangerous. Motorsport is deadly.

In Alpine’s wisdom, they decide to give a local hero — Ryo Hirakawa — a shot in the car for FP1. Fine. But why sacrifice rookie Doohan? He needs every lap, every kilometre, every ounce of track time here, less so because his career is very much on the line, more importantly his safety! Was it an April Fool’s joke? No!

Why should Doohan sit out FP1 no matter how much experience he has at Suzuka in minor leagues? Formula 1 turns every circuit into an unforgiving beast. This place even more so.

If anyone should have stepped aside, it was Pierre Gasly. And if Gasly is truly a sportsman, if he has any sense of fairness, he should say: “This isn’t right. Let Doohan take FP1. I’ll sit out for the Japanese rookie.” Will it happen? Probably not. But it should.

Because what Alpine has done is a crime — to make a young driver sit out FP1 at Suzuka! It’s irresponsible. It’s the act of a scumbag bully. And it will be criminal if fate gets nasty. It has all the hallmarks of Briatore. And he will be accountable if [God forbid] the 23-year-old Aussie hurts himself this weekend in Japan.

And if it’s not Briatore making these putrid calls, then I apologise — then it’s on Oakes. And if not Oakes, then whoever inside Alpine made this decision: they are a disgrace. They know who they are.

FIA and Formula 1 wake-up: Ben Sulayem & Domenicali

If I were Mick Doohan – MotoGP legend – I would pull my son out of that car immediately. One hundred and ten percent. Alpine is a complete shitshow. But then, does a father pull the plug on Jack’s hard-earned dream? On all the work and effort that’s gone into getting him here? No. And so the FIA must step in for the welfare of a driver.

If Mohammed Ben Sulayem wants to do something useful, if FIA stewards want to protect drivers, then implement a rule: rookies who have never raced at Suzuka (or any track for that matter) must do FP1. Because right now, we are watching Doohan being destroyed in plain sight at one of the most treacherous F1 venues on the calendar. And that is unforgivable.

This post will be sent to Alpine (for protocol’s sake as I care not what they have to say) but also the FIA, and Formula 1 for comment. Stefano Domenicali cannot sit idly by. He knows Briatore — they’re probably still on speed dial. But if the former Ferrari boss cares about the sport, about driver safety and well-being, he must act.

And if this issue doesn’t explode in the paddock this weekend, I’ll be shocked. If it does, I’ll be proud of every colleague and journalist who wants the best for motorsport. Because it will be a victory for sport, for Formula 1 and fair-deal for Doohan. And a defeat for a man whose morals belong in a sewer and cheating is part of his DNA it seems.

In closing: Making Doohan sit out FP1 at Suzuka is a crime in my book.

Briatore and his life of crime

Timeline key events in Flavio Briatore’s criminal past, controversies, and Formula 1 career:

Late 1970s: Associates with businessman Attilio Dutto; involved in Paramatti Vernici, a company with Mafia-linked history.
1979: Dutto is killed in a car bombing. The company collapses; Briatore is later charged with fraudulent bankruptcy.
Early 1980s: Convicted in Italy for fraudulent bankruptcy – sentenced to 4.5 years in prison.
1986: Convicted again for involvement in a fraudulent gambling ring – sentenced to 3 years.
Late 1980s: Flees to the Virgin Islands to avoid prison. Convictions later wiped by an Italian amnesty in 1989.
1989: Becomes commercial director, then team principal, of Benetton F1.
1994–1995: Leads Benetton and Schumacher to two F1 World Championships. Team accused of cheating (traction control software, illegal fuel rig).
1997: Ousted from Benetton following internal disagreements.
2000: Returns as team principal of Renault F1.
2005–2006: Wins championships with Fernando Alonso.
2007: Renault found guilty of technical espionage (McLaren data), but not penalised.
2008: Singapore Grand Prix “Crashgate” – Piquet crashes deliberately under team orders.
2009: Briatore resigns. FIA bans him for life from F1 for orchestrating Crashgate.
2010: French court overturns the FIA ban; later settled to stay out of F1 until end of 2012.
2010: Italian authorities seize yacht Force Blue over €3.6-million tax fraud claims.
2011–2018: Briatore convicted of tax evasion (Force Blue); the sentence reduced to 18 months.
2013: Free to return to F1 roles but stays away.
2016: Publicly denies interest in returning to team management.
2020: His Billionaire Club in Sardinia investigated as a COVID-19 outbreak hotspot.
2022: Final acquittal in the Force Blue tax case – conviction overturned.
2022–2023: Resurfaces in Formula 1 as an advisor to Alpine and F1 management.
2024: Makes Jack Doohan sit out FP1 at the Japanese Grand Prix