FORMER Renault boss Flavio Briatore, 70, has been rushed to hospital and is said to be in “serious” condition suffering from complications caused by coronavirus.
Reports in Italy claim to the former F1 team boss was taken to San Raffaele hospital to Milan on Monday.
Flavio Briatore has been rushed to hospital due to coronavirusCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Briatore is dating a law student 49 his juniorCredit: The Mega Agency
Briatore is dating Benedetta Bosi, who is a student at the University of MilanCredit: The Mega Agency
Briatore helped Schumacher win his first two F1 titles at BenettonCredit: PA:Press Association
Briatore’s illness follows his Billionaire club being shut down following a spate of positive coronavirus tests seemingly stemming from the Porto Cervo hotspot.
The ex-Benetton chief is not in intensive care, according to reports in Italy – and there has been no official statement, as yet.
However, the flamboyant Italian – who is dating a law student 49 YEARS younger than him – is said to be in “serious” condition.
Briatore – who owned QPR between 2007 and 2010 – saw his Billionaire club closed following an outbreak of the killer virus.
Around 60 members of staff returned positive results for coronavirus in the latest wave of testing.
Briatore was at the club for a recent football match, along with Bologna boss Sinisa Mihajlovic, who has also tested positive for Covid-19.
Nightclubs are considered to be promoting a second wave of coronavirus in Italy.
Briatore famously dated supermodel Naomi CampbellCredit: AFP – Getty
Briatore was also in a relationship with Heidi Klum – with the pair having a daughter, Helene, togetherCredit: AP:Associated Press
Briatore helped Alonso to his only two World Championship wins at RenaultCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And with clubs all now on lockdown, Briatore took to Facebook earlier this week to share his disappointment.
He wrote: “My heart weeps to see an economy slaughtered by people who have never done anything in their lives.”
Briatore helped Michael Schumacher to his first two Formula One world titles in 1994 and 1995, during the German legend’s pre-Ferrari days, at Benetton.
He also helped Fernando Alonso to his only two career titles at Renault in 2005 and 2006.
But he left F1 in a cloud of controversy after being found guilty of race-fixing.
Briatore was found guilty of ordering Nelson Piquet Jr to deliberately crash his car to help team-mate Alonso win the Singapore Grand Prix in 2008.
The Italian was banned by the FIA for life, but saw his suspension overturned on appeal.
Despite that, he has still never returned to motorsport.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk