Briatore denies planning F1 comeback

Flavio Briatore has played down talk that he is looking at a return to Formula 1, despite speculation in recent months that he could be lined up to help promote the sport

The former Renault boss, who left the team in the wake of the controversy about fixing the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, insists he is happy watching the sport from the sidelines for now.

"It's very satisfying being a dad," said Briatore in an interview with the official Formula 1 website. "I am more relaxed than ever before in my life. Life can be so beautiful."

When asked if he was likely to come back to F1, Briatore said: "Hardly. I have won seven titles with different teams. I want to have fun with what I'm doing - that is my motivation and not the need for a job.

"At the moment I wouldn't have fun in Formula 1. At the moment I am happy with what I am doing - being a dad, husband, and taking care of my investments."

Briatore also says watching the sport on television he has realised more what fans want - which is drivers fighting wheel-to-wheel.

"Races are always spectacular when something extraordinary happens," he said. "For example, when it starts to rain. Then things take off. If the 'extraordinary' is missing then it's mostly a holding position from the start to the chequered flag.

"Very often people in the paddock seem to forget that it's only the fight of the drivers for positions that draws the crowds - and not the work of the engineers. That doesn't knock anybody's socks off. Fans are not interested in the fact that it takes 600 people and $200 million to get a reasonable car on the grid. They want to see their heroes fighting each other. Oh well."