BEST OF BRIATORE

** FLAVIO BRIATORE ** claims that he has managed to remain friends with his ex-girlfriend, ** Naomi Campbell, ** despite relentless rumours of their traumatic break up. "Ah Naomi," he sighs, in this morning's Daily Telegraph. "I still like her a lot. In fact, I just saw her two weeks ago. You know, she is a very sweet and generous girl. People do not know what she is really like." Formula One managing director Flavio, who has become known as the last of the world's great playboys after dating the likes of ** Christina Estrada, ** ** Julia Tholstrup, ** Victoria's Secret model ** Emma Hemmings ** and ** Lady Victoria Hervey, ** spent more than two years with Naomi before the tempestuous relationship finally came to an end in a whirl of speculation about punch ups, law suits and a rumoured £2 million settlement. And despite it being sad "when you finish something important", the perma-tanned Italian, who began his career by setting up the American arm of Benetton before making his millions with Formula One, claims never to have suffered a broken heart and says that he is now thoroughly enjoying the single life, especially in London which, he explains, "is a great town for men. I don't know why," he says. "Maybe it's all those shops in Jermyn Street." (5 February 2002, AM)