Flavio Briatore: Former Formula 1 boss and ex-Queens Park Rangers co-owner has heart surgery

Briatore was pictured at the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this month

Ex-Renault Formula 1 boss and former Queens Park Rangers co-owner Flavio Briatore has undergone heart surgery to remove a benign tumour.

The Italian, 73, said he has been discharged from hospital in Milan following the operation.

Briatore said on Instagram the surgery had been "perfectly successful".

"Following a routine check-up I underwent heart surgery because I had a benign mass which was removed with a minimal invasive procedure," he said.

Businessman Briatore was managing director of Benetton when Michael Schumacher won the F1 drivers championship in 1994 and 1995.

He was also in charge of Renault when Fernando Alonso also took the title in 2005 and 2006 but left amid the 'Crashgate' scandal.

He has not held an official position in F1 since but has been present at grands prix in recent years.

The Italian co-owned QPR between 2007 and 2010, having bought into the west-London club alongside Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal.