Flavio crowned F1's man of the Year

It’s a morning ritual in any F1 paddock: arrive too early, bleary eyed from hard work and well-deserved but too short sleep. What’s the first thing you do? Pick up a copy of that morning’s Red Bulletin… Today, as the teams arrived in China, they ran through the usual mix of funny photos and witty captions, but the centre-piece interview was with Renault team boss Flavio Briatore. Not only that, but he has been named “Man of the Year”. Here are some extracts from the interview…

On Formula 1
“Formula 1 is complicated, but not as complicated as people would have us believe. We need to take a hard look at ourselves. Let’s put on a show to entertain people, let’s promote young drivers, let’s focus more on marketing and communication, let’s work on our image and within that there is a place for technology. Let’s put on a good show”

On achieving success
“Success is about people. And that is not just the driver, or myself, it’s the group. This is incredibly important. The driver is the person who transfers the work done by the team on to the track, he is the last act of this play. The driver has to translate, interpret and deliver the hard work of 100, 200, 500 people. This is what a driver can give you.”

On being individual
“I have always followed my path. I have showed you can win with Benetton and later with Renault. Don’t forget Renault are the first non-sports car manufacturer to win the world championship, and we did it in four years. We started off in 2001 in Australia 18th and 19th on the grid. I still remember we were overtaken by a Minardi – a Minardi driven by Alonso.”

On expressing yourself
“Some managers feel drivers should be lined up like toy soldiers. I disagree: they must be allowed their space and freedom. There are limits, of course, and a bright kid will recognise those limits. But they must have fun. These are young people. I have never tried to tell my drivers what to say in an interview. And I have never listened to one of my drivers giving an interview. I couldn’t care less. There are all free to say what they want.”