Alex Rins only knew about Suzuki team manager Davide Brivio's plans to leave MotoGP for F1 a day before it become pub�🌠�lic.

When🦩 told, the Spaniard initially thought Brivio was joking and admits it was a 'big shock'.

"Well, this Brivio situation is new for me also, because the day before [the news] was in the mღedia, he called me and told me, "Alex, I have so🔯mething to say. I'm leaving the Suzuki team."

"And I said, "OK, where are you going?" I was thinking it was a big joke! B🍷ut it was true. It was a big sho🃏ck for me and for all of the team, but it's his decision."

Suzuki has opted not to re🌄place Brivio with project leader Shinichi Sahara expected to take over most of the Italian's work, for now at least.

"It looks like Suzuki doesn't want to put anybody [new] there now. If they think this, it will be the best thing, because it's not easy to choose a team manager quickly," Rins said. "I think the situation in the te꧅am is good. I think we will keep it like this."

Brivio, who previously won MotoGP titles with Valentino Rossi and Yamah💖a, was appointed Suzuki team manager ahead of the factory's 2015 return.

One of Brivio's key roles was in rider signings, 𝓰including winning the signatures of Rins and newly-crowned world champion team-mate Joan Mir.

"For su✃re we will miss him because we were always talking a lot, doing jokes in the team with him and he also gave me good advice," Rins said. "I hope he can come to some races as a🌸 visitor and I wish him good luck in Formula 1."

And would Rin꧅s have renewed with Suzuki until the end of 2023 if he had known Brivio would be leaving?

"It's a good question, but ꧟honestly I think I would have stayed. Suzuki is a great family. Brivio is leaving, but he leaves with a lot 🉐done."

Brivio has accepted the role of racing director๊ for the Alpine F1 te💎am (formerly Renault).