In the absence of Eddie Jordan, Flavio Briatore looks set to take centre stage as the most charismatic team principal.
When he first entered F1, brought in by the Benetton family, it would be fair to say that Flavio was not popular with many of his rivals, who regarded this flashy, former clothing salesman with great suspicion.
The fans too were wary, for Briatore's vision of F1 was not the traditional view, indeed he brought with him many of the gimmicks that had made Benetton a global sensation. Traditionalists shuddered.
Now however, he is liked by fans and fellow team rivals alike, with Bernie Ecclestone having a particular fondness for the flamboyant Italian.
Ahead of the season, which could be his last with Renault, Briatore spoke to Derick Allsop of The Daily Telegraph, He began by stating that the sport needs to get its house in order.
"What is important is to get F1 back on to the sports pages," he said. "We hear too much about finance and troubles when the public want a good race. We spend all this money on technology. Is this good for the sport? I don't think so.
"We have big discussions about gearboxes," he continued, "but I've never seen a gearbox winning a race, only losing. We have 800 to 1,000 people to put two cars on the grid. I believe it is too much. We had better racing 12 years ago for 60 per cent of the budget.
"We have to give customers what they want to see, a good fight between drivers, with the Championship finishing in the last race, or a fight between two drivers in the same team, something that is not allowed at Ferrari."
There are many who will agree with the Italian, especially his clear dig at Ferrari's policy of favouring Michael Schumacher - who, after making his F1 debut with Jordan in 1991, was promptly snapped up by the Italian. A move that proved beneficial for all concerned.
"Michael arrived at the right time because there was not the strong competition there had been," says the Italian. "There was no Ayrton Senna (sic), and Nigel and Alain Prost had gone when he won his first Championship. That left Damon Hill and Mika Hakkinen, so in a way he was lucky.
"Now, instead of Schumacher, we have Alonso," he continued, referring to Renault's star driver, who just happens to be managed by... Flavio Briatore. "We have the same philosophy and Alonso can do the same. Spain is now one of the big countries for F1 because of Fernando, like Germany became because of Michael.
"We and other teams must put Michael under more pressure because last season he was like a taxi driver, with one arm out of the window. It was so easy. If you put him under pressure you can be successful, as Hill and Hakkinen were. We have to do that for the good of the sport and I think it will be better this year."
His future with Renault is uncertain. The French team has made it clear that it wants regular wins and, in due course, the title. In 2003, the French outfit finished fourth behind Ferrari, WilliamsF1 and McLaren. In 2004, it finished third behind Ferrari and BAR. Though many see this as a move forward, Renault - particularly in light of the fact that it was second in the constructors' championship for much of the year - sees it as a step back.
Briatore's contract with Renault runs out at the end of this season, and though all concerned are playing things down, it is widely believed that should the French outfit not make serious progress, the Italian's head would be among the first to roll.
That said, Briatore has his fingers in many pies, not bad for a man who came into F1 with no real knowledge of the sport or its history.
Despite his 'flash' image, Briatore is popular within the paddock, and is now regarded as part of the F1 'establishment', so much so that he has been mentioned as a possible successor to Bernie Ecclestone.
"I would not be interested in Bernie's job," he says. "For me the attraction and the motivation is competing every day, before at Benetton, then with Supertec and now back here with Renault. Last year we were third in the constructors' championship, this year I believe we and McLaren can fight with Ferrari. So sure, I would like to finish the job."
Should he choose to follow Eddie Jordan's example, F1 would be all the poorer. Despite the shaky start, Briatore has become one of the leading figures in the crazy pantomime that is F1, and we mean that in the kindest way. Far too often, Formula One, and those involved in it, take it far too seriously, and there are times when the flamboyant showman's presence is like a breath of fresh air.
That said, looking at the R25 in pre-season testing, we get the impression that a new contract is already being prepared.
