A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
Flavio Briatore is currently acting team principal for Alpine, a position made vacant by Oliver Oakes who resigned unexpectedly. Now, it appears as though the French racing stable, despite Christian Horner's potential availability, have found in Steve Nielsen a lead candidate to fill the hole left by Oakes.
Briatore was never expected to take over the position permanently and with Horner's current position at risk, GPblog understands that the Red Bull Racing team principal has moseyed up to the extravagant Italian to inquire about the possibilities of him transferring from Milton Keynes to Enstone.
For Alpine though, and therefore Briatore, the correct choice for a team leading figure may lie elsewhere, as GPblog can confirm.
Flavio Briatore and Christian Horner together during the Spanish Grand Prix race weekend
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'Nielsen, a candidate to replace Oakes, but will not be team boss'
Nielsen, recently employed as consultant for Formula One, after serving as the FIA's sporting director for 11 months, though team boss in practice, will not hold the appropriate title. This because as it is understood the FIA needs to sign off on all leading figures, from team principals to sporting directors, and Nielsen it is rumoured to have left the governing body in complicated circumstances.
Discussions are said to have been put in motion at the Spanish Grand Prix after two heavyweights in the paddock were seemingly ruled out from taking over the position Oakes vacated, Guenther Steiner, and Otmar Szaffnauer.
Nielsen brings with him a plethora of experience with the Briton having worked at both Lotus and Benetton before serving at Enstone for ten years. He has even more experience having worked for several other teams such as Williams and Toro Rosso.
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