F1 Advisor Blasts Alpine for Double Driver Loss Reflects on Team’s.

F1 Advisor Blasts Alpine for Double Driver Loss, Reflects on Team’s……..read more

As the 2024 Formula 1 season winds down, the driver lineups for most teams are already confirmed for next year. However, Red Bull’s junior team, Visa Cash App RB, is still uncertain about its drivers. The delay stems from uncertainty surrounding Sergio Perez’s future with the main Red Bull team. Despite being under contract until 2026, Perez’s poor performances in 2024 and a recent DNF in the season finale have left Red Bull reassessing his position. The outcome of this evaluation will determine whether Perez stays or if Liam Lawson, currently racing for RB, will replace him. Lawson has already been linked with a potential promotion should Perez be dropped ahead of the 2025 season.

In the midst of this uncertainty, Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor, has made a candid admission about the team’s struggles. Briatore returned to Formula 1 in 2024 after being banned for his involvement in the infamous ‘Crashgate’ scandal. In an exclusive interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Briatore opened up about the difficult circumstances that led to Alpine’s loss of two prominent drivers, Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri, in a single summer.

Briatore acknowledged that it was “incredible” for the team to lose both drivers in such a short time, especially after Alpine’s initial plans had seemed solid. Alpine confirmed Piastri as part of their 2023 lineup, only for the Australian driver to publicly deny the announcement and sign with McLaren instead. Briatore revealed that Alonso, too, had wanted to stay at Alpine, but issues with the team’s management, including the disappearance of Laurent Rossi, hindered contract negotiations. As a result, Alonso signed with Aston Martin after discussions with Lawrence Stroll. Briatore also mentioned that they had received an offer from Williams but ultimately chose Aston Martin due to Alpine’s inability to finalize a deal.

The executive advisor pointed the blame squarely at Alpine’s management for the mishandling of the driver situation. Briatore even told Renault CEO Luca de Meo that if he were to take control of the team, he would require full responsibility for making decisions. Despite these challenges, Alpine managed to finish the 2024 season in sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship, and Briatore expressed optimism for the future.

Looking ahead to 2025, Alpine will have a new driver lineup featuring Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan. With Doohan joining the grid full-time, Alpine is hopeful that the new pairing will bring stability and success, especially after the turbulent events of the past year.