Ex-F1 team boss Flavio Briatore, who contracted COVID-19 in late August, has claimed that he “helped” secure Fernando Alonso’s return to the Renault F1 Team.
The Spaniard will join the Enstone-based team at the start of next year, when they will be rebranded Alpine, and he previously served two separate stints with Renault over a decade ago.
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“We work together, yes. We have worked together for his return to F1,” Briatore said in a recent interview with Spanish TV channel Antena 3.
“The big news is that Fernando returns with Renault next year. Fernando is like my family and we have achieved incredible things together. We have great memories together.
“I am delighted he is back because he is one of the best drivers in the world. He is very fast. He is here, fit and highly motivated,” the Italian businessman and ex-F1 team boss added.
Continuing, Briatore confirmed that he has fully recovered from COVID-19 after contracting the virus a couple of months ago and accused the press of making it seem like he had died.
“There was a lot of talk about it in the press. I recovered but if you followed the press, it seemed I had died. But I have not died, I am phenomenal.
“Covid-19 is terrible, but for me it was like a mild pneumonia. I was admitted to the hospital for five days and then I had to quarantine for three weeks at home to recover,” he added.
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