Flavio Briatore heads to Emilia-Romagna in undefined Alpine role - BBC Sport

Briatore, who is employed on a consultancy basis by parent company Renault, is "covering the duties previously performed by Oakes", Alpine has said.

But it has emerged he is not the person responsible for the team in the eyes of governing body the FIA.

He cannot be - because he is not a member of staff, and does not hold an F1 licence, as is required of people in such authority by the FIA's competitor's staff registration system.

In the absence of a new team principal, racing director Dave Greenwood is the "dedicated responsible person", an Alpine spokesperson said.