In a recent interview with F1 Racing magazine, former F1 manager FLAVIO BRIATORE discussed the current state of the sport, according to Begoña Villarrubia of MUNDO DEPORTIVO. Since leaving F1 team Renault in '09, Briatore has kept his distance from the sport, "but his voice is always heard from the distance." Addressing rumors of his possible return to F1, Briatore said, "I am very happy and I have a good family life. I was there for eight years, I won seven titles and I discovered two stars after AYRTON SENNA, MICHAEL SCHUMACHER and FERNANDO ALONSO." Briatore also said that F1 is no longer the millionaire business it was before. Briatore: "I know everything that is happening in Formula 1 and I know that to have a team in these times doesn't make sense financially, so there are no reasons to return." Briatore continued, "I speak a lot with F1 CEO BERNIE (ECCLESTONE), I stay permanently in contact and I don't miss anything. The cost of a team is astronomical, whatever money the teams receive from Ecclestone, they spend it. It doesn't matter what they receive, and even though revenue increases, they spend it" (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 4/29).
