Farewell Flavio

Farewell Flavio
The rumoured departure of Flavio Briatore has finally happened. Dave Richards, boss of the company behind Subaru?s rally success, Prodrive, has been appointed as the new chief executive of Benetton Formula by the Benetton family. Richards will continue as Chairman and majority shareholder of Prodrive but will replace Flavio Briatore in running the Benetton team.

Richards admits it is something of a departure from what he is used to, "For a while I have to sit at the back and watch and learn and listen for a while." He clearly has complete control of the team though, "I have a total mandate to run the company as I see fit within certain parameters."

Rumours are linking both Proton and BAT with Dave Richards and it seems that the Malaysian car giant may well be keen to move into Formula One. Once the current Mild Seven sponsorship runs out at the end of next season it seems likely that BAT may becom involved in the team.

The departing Flavio Briatore felt that he had achieved much of what he set out to do in the time he has been with Benetton, "Coming to Benetton eight years ago I had set many goals for the team and myself, I feel now I have achieved most of them and am ready to take on new challenges."