Alpine team leader Flavio Briatore has contradicted his own squad’s announcement that Franco Colapinto had been promoted to a race seat for the next five Formula 1 rounds from this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Flavio Briatore has contradicted Alpine’s announcement that Franco Colapinto is on a five-race deal after replacing Jack Doohan for this weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. After the Miami Grand Prix, Alpine announced Colapinto would take Doohan’s seat for the next five races.

Love him or hate him, Formula 1 is certainly far more colourful with Flavio Briatore around. It's been almost one year since the fiery Italian made his long-awaited - and somewhat controversial - return to the sport as an executive advisor with Alpine.