Flavio Briatore joins Alpine in Executive Advisor role

Ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, Alpine have announced another key change to its organisation, confirming Flavio Briatore as Executive Advisor.

Alpine's statement read: “BWT Alpine F1 Team can confirm that Flavio Briatore has been appointed by Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo as his Executive Advisor for the Formula One Division."

Briatore's role will see him “predominantly focus on top level areas of the team”. His task will be to scout "top talents and providing insights on the driver market, challenging the existing project by assessing the current structure and advising on some strategic matters within the sport”.

In recent years, Briatore has been actively involved in Formula One as Fernando Alonso's manager. The Italian has frequently made appearances in the F1 paddock in attendance of the two-time world champion.

The Italian businessman started his career as a restaurant manager and insurance salesman in Italy. In 1990, he was promoted by Luciano Benetton to manage the Benetton Formula One racing team, which became Renault F1 in 2002.

From 2007 to 2011, he was part-owner and chairman of London's Queens Park Rangers. In September 2009, Briatore was forced to resign from the Renault F1 team due to his involvement in race fixing at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

After the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) conducted its own investigation, Briatore was banned indefinitely from any events sanctioned by the FIA, although this ban was later overturned by a French Tribunal de Grande Instance.