Few people would have predicted at the start of the 2024 Formula 1 season that Flavio Briatore would be returning to the paddock working for Alpine.
Given his connection with the French manufacturer under their previous Renault guise – and how that relationship ended – it’s a surprise that the experienced Italian negotiator is back working for the team.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Alpine’s F1 executive adviser Flavio Briatore
However, Flavio Briatore has several key objectives and alongside CEO Luca De Meo and team principal Bruno Famin will want to quickly lift the team away from the bottom three places in the Constructors’ Championship.
Briatore was speaking on La Politica Nel Pallone after the Austrian Grand Prix about one of the areas he’s been tasked with sorting.
Ahead of the race, Alpine confirmed that Pierre Gasly will be staying with the team beyond the end of the 2024 season.
His teammate Esteban Ocon will be departing after five years with the team and Alpine are now in the market for his replacement.
Briatore has now confirmed that Alpine are going to ‘do everything’ they can to sign Carlos Sainz for next season.
The Spaniard is nearing 200 Grand Prix – taking part in his 196 event at the Red Bull Ring where he secured the 23 podium of his F1 career.
The 29-year-old is taking his time to decide on his next steps after losing his Ferrari seat and Alpine have suddenly made an improved offer for his services.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
Flavio Briatore says Alpine will ‘do everything’ to sign Carlos Sainz
Speaking about Alpine’s driver line-up, Briatore said: “The chances are high that Sainz will be of interest to us. We’ll see in the next few days, although right now, in Alpine, one driver doesn’t make a big difference to me.
“We have [Jack] Doohan, too. Of course, there is a driver who – incredibly – is free. It’s incredible that Carlos is free and we are all willing to have him in the team, we will do everything to have him.”
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Carlos Sainz the key to the final phase of the 2025 F1 driver market
There are still seven seats to fill on the grid for next season but the majority of those positions are reliant on knowing where Sainz is heading.
If he does choose Alpine over Sauber and Williams then they will have to fall back on their other options for next year.
Williams have already identified two potential alternatives although they’ll hope that the uncertainties surrounding Alpine’s future – such as their potential power unit supplier for 2026 – may see Sainz choose them as his next team.
That’s where Briatore comes into play as he appears to be partially responsible for exploring what Alpine should do next when it comes to their engine situation.
It’s already been suggested that Renault might be losing interest in their F1 project and their power units could be the first thing to go.
Mercedes would likely be the preferred power unit supplier for Alpine if Renault do abandon the project and Briatore is exactly the person you would want negotiating that deal.
However, their immediate focus needs to be on the driver’s market and since Briatore’s arrival the tone within the team has changed.
Famin previously suggested that Alpine were ready to react to whatever happened on that front, but it’s no coincidence that once Briatore started working with De Meo, their pursuit of Sainz intensified.
Although the Spaniard seems to be in no rush to make a final decision, he needs to announce his next team sooner rather than later.
The post ‘It’s incredible’: Flavio Briatore now says Alpine will ‘do everything’ to sign 196-race driver for 2025 appeared first on F1 Oversteer.
