Briatore Spotted in the Paddock at Silverstone

Flavio Briatore's third presence in the Formula One paddock this season, at Silverstone, triggered yet another wave of rumors regarding his potential return to the Great Circus. As you all know, the man has been initially banned for life by the FIA from all motor racing activities following his alleged involvement in the crash-gate, after which the two parties have cut out a deal to keep Briatore out of F1 until at least 2013.

As expected however, a man who has been involved in Formula One racing since the beginning of the 1990s cannot leave it behind in a blink of an eye. And maybe that's what Briatore is doing at the moment, keeping in touch with the sport that made him famous and rich over the past two decades. Nevertheless, several media reports suggest otherwise.

While ruling out a return to F1 racing as a team boss, Briatore never said anything about turning down a potential offer alongside his long-time friend and business associate Bernie Ecclestone. The Brit was actually the one who got Briatore the VIP tickets for Silverstone, as he did in Monaco and Valencia.

According to the Italian media, Briatore now seems to eye an active role in the management team of Formula One, headed by Ecclestone, where he would take care of the sponsorship and marketing sides of the business. All plans have to wait until 2013 however, but that isn't to mean the 60-year old Italian cannot keep in touch and stay in line with the latest tendencies in the sport.

Additionally, Briatore is still the manager of Red Bull racer Mark Webber, whom he supported actively amid the wing-saga within the Austrian team last weekend.

“I spoke to Flavio last night and he said 'Mark, just make a good start',” admitted the 33-year old Australian after hi magnificent win in Great Britain.