AUGUST 11, 2001

Briatore stays in the limelight

WHILE some of the Formula 1 team bosses are keeping their noses to the grindstone, others have taken the opportunity for a few days off. Flavio Briatore is one of those on holiday but, as ever, Flavio is having trouble keeping out of the newspapers, having fallen out with his much-publicized girlfriend model Naomi Campbell. According to the latest gossip columns the two had a flaming row on Briatore's boat in Sardinia and Campbell was then escorted off the vessel, yelling abuse at Briatore as she went. Campbell is famous for her fiery temper, which has got her into trouble in the past, notably when she was sued by a former employee who claimed that Campbell had hit her with a telephone.

If he has time, Briatore is expected back in F1 circles in Hungary where the Benetton team will be trying to improve on its disappointing record in this year's World Championship.