Alpine are specializing in restructuring their crew, reasonably than who will drive their automobile subsequent yr, Flavio Briatore claims.
The F1 veteran has returned to the game in an govt advisor function at Alpine.
Esteban Ocon’s time on the crew will finish this yr, and he’ll be part of Haas in 2025, which means Pierre Gasly wants a brand new teammate.
Reserve driver Jack Doohan is reportedly near being promoted to a full-time race seat by Alpine to interchange Ocon.
However Briatore instructed the Method For Success podcast about their line-up: “I don’t know but. On this second, the driving force is just not…
“On this second it is advisable put the crew collectively from a industrial facet, technical facet, administration facet.
“The motive force makes no distinction now.
“The distinction was made in 2006, 2007, 2008. On this second I imagine just one driver was out there, Carlos Sainz.”
Outgoing Ferrari driver Sainz has opted to signal for Williams in 2025, ignoring curiosity from Alpine and Sauber.
Alpine’s vacant seat is certainly one of simply 4 remaining within the 2025 F1 driver line-up.
Briatore continued: “For me, it’s simply the efficiency of the automobile. It’s restructuring the crew utterly.
“When you’ve got a very good automobile, you want a very good driver. If the automobile is just not performing…
“We’re placing all of the vitality into the technical facet to ensure the automobile of Alpine seems higher, and higher, and higher.
“In 2026 I imagine we’ll see the brand new Alpine.”
Briatore, now 74, was beforehand the Benetton crew boss throughout Michael Schumacher’s title-winning days.
He then oversaw Fernando Alonso’s championships with Renault.
His newest problem is to show across the Alpine F1 crew, who’ve endured a fraught 2024.
Amongst their points was Ocon, who clattered into teammate Gasly in Monaco, drawing the ire of his employers.
Alpine later confirmed that Ocon would exit the crew on the finish of this yr, and he has since signed for Haas.
