Flavio Briatore believes that if the sport's current trajectory continues, some teams could be worth $10bn.

Having named his nightclub and clothing brands Billionaire, the Italian, who began life as a restaurant manager and insurance salesman, knows what he's talking about.

In 1979 he was appointed personally by Luciano Benetton to spearhead the Italian clothing company's fledgling operation in the U.S. Ten years later, the Benetton family put him in charge of the F1 team it had bought from Toleman several years earlier.

Though he had no previous knowledge of, or indeed interest in, the sport, he soon became one of F1's most prominent figures. Of course, there was controversy, be it the poaching of Michael Schumacher from Jordan, right through to the infamous Crash-gate saga, but there is no denying that the flamboyant Italian knows his stuff.

Speaking to The Race Business, Briatore, who returned to Enstone, Benetton's facility of old, to run Alpine, at the behest of (then) Renault CEO Luca de Meo, predicts that some teams are on course to be valued at $10bn.

"I sold my share in Benetton, and the value of the team was $80 million," he says. "Now you're talking about $3.5billion, $4billion.

"Everybody's predicting," he continues, "you're talking with these finance people, talking about, "OK, Formula 1 in three, four years, the team is worth $10billion."

Asked if some teams have reached their peak value, seemingly referring to Alpine, he replied: "If the team was mine, I'd have sold already."

His comments come as Otro Capital seeks to sell its 24% stake in Alpine, a stake which saw interest from both Christian Horner and Mercedes until the German manufacturer cried off, dismissing the $720m (£536m) asking price.

When the stake was purchased in June 2023 it was for €200m, which gave the team a value of $900m (£700m), which even then was seen as "preposterous" by many. Now, Otro is seeking more than three times that amount, valuing the Enstone-based outfit at $3bn (£2.2bn).

Recently, Renault Group CEO, Francois Provost said the 'partnership' between Alpine and Otro Capital had been of no real benefit to the F1 team, while making clear that it has to have the French manufacturer's agreement to any sale.

However, Briatore insists that the $3bn valuation is not wide of the mark.

"No, no, we are more," he insists, "because we have an offer, we have an offer for the 24% of Otro, the valuation is 3.2. So we have 40% of the valuation of Renault.

"All of Renault is worth 8.3 billion," he adds, referring to the Renault Group. "And we're working at this 3.5 valuation. So we're representing 40% or 50%."

An absolutely mind-blowing claim.

Seemingly, Renault only has the right of veto over Otro's stake until next month.

"Not really my problem," insists Briatore, "this is more the issue of Renault. Sure, to have a partner, of 24%, I expect somebody to give not only the finance, but to give some help in technology or whatever, or whatever in finance," he adds.

"But in September, I don't think nothing will happen dramatically," he admits, "because I see it as very difficult for somebody to buy 24% of one company, with no agreement with the majority. I never see somebody spend 600 million to buy a minority, to be signed as partner, if you don't agree with the majority. See what happens.

"Renault is negotiating. For the team point of view, for me, it makes no difference. We have Otro, now tomorrow we have somebody else."

And of course, dear reader, while these sort of figures are being bandied about, Stefano Domenicali - with the help of the George Lucas's of this world - will keep taking F1 in the same soulless direction.

By the way, despite his history, when Briatore's return to the sport was first mooted, he was supported by the likes of Toto Wolff and Fred Vasseur, however the Italian cites countryman Domenicali as facilitating his return.