Is Briatore the determining factor in today's F1?

I have said it before and I say it again: Briatore is a genius. That's not to say he can be a prick and all, but the guy does a first rate job at running a team. Yes, he had top drivers like MS and Alonso who brought him the title, but it was Flavio who put those guys into the seats of his cars, when they were nothing more than an unrealized promise.

As a generalization I'd say a top team boss has a great influence on the title. I don't think it is the end to all. Ron Dennis formed a lackluster Hakkinen into a MS killing machine netting two titles (really only one without the freak accident). Frank Williams brought Alan Jones to greatness and launched his team on a successful campaign. I also think Todt did the same thing at Ferrari with MS and the 5 titles and ever since Jean took over more responsibilities (like running the whole darn factory) his attention to the racing team must have gone down and with it the results.

So in conclusion a guy like Flav/Ron/Jean/Frank is the first and important step to the title. But luckily not the only one.

 

Andreas, you forgot to mention that Jean Todt's girlfriend at the races must be a major distraction.

I agree with you on Flavio and Ron Dennis, but no way on Frank Williams, they don't do anything to instill confidence in the driver, just ask; Reutemann, Laffite, Boutsen, Hill, and HHF. Alan Jones was born to be a Williams Driver because he didn't need any nannying as opposed to Carlos Reuteman who should have been the 81 Champion but wasn't treated too warmly at Williams.

 

I agree with all your points 100%. I mentioned Frank as another example of the team boss laying the foundation and picking a "nobody" and turn him into a champion. But you're right, Frank has also gone the opposite route of taking a superstar and kill off the potential.

 

Kinda like a Modern Day Enzo, without the Street Cars, and since Adrian Newey no more Championships.

 

Neither Frank nor Patrick were ever good at making their drivers feel comfortable, just not in their nature. On top of that I believe Frank doesn't want the driver to become more famous than the car and I also think he is simply frugal when it comes to driver salaries. All that combined was enough to make newly crowned champions run away. Twice. Or as Senna94 pointed out, prevented the titles from happening in the first place.

I bet Flav can be brutal when you're on his wrong side (e.g. Fisico) and the nicest guy when you're on his good side (Alonso). Frank is somewhere between cold as a fish and ice cold.