Ecclestone ‘surprised’ as Briatore walks away

FORMULA ONE supremo Bernie Ecclestone has expressed his sadness at close friend Flavio Briatore’s sensational exit from the sport.

Ecclestone’s comments are unsurprising given the bond forged over the years between himself and Briatore, who first stepped into F1 in 1988.

Twenty one years later and Briatore’s relationship with the sport is at an end as he yesterday left his position as team principal with Renault, along with his number two, Pat Symonds, their executive director of engineering.