In full reconstruction, Alpine is still looking to strengthen its technical department. But Flavio Briatore refuses to bet on a big name at all costs.
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Alpine’s reconstruction continues. After several years marked by numerous changes in its management, the French team is now looking to regain stability and gradually strengthen its technical structure.
Returning to the team in 2024 as an executive advisor, Flavio Briatore has gradually become the key figure. Steve Nielsen now manages daily operations at Enstone, while David Sanchez holds the position of executive technical director.
The switch from the Renault engine to the Mercedes power unit in 2026 also represented a major change. Alpine currently holds sixth place in the constructors’ championship, just five points behind Racing Bulls, while Pierre Gasly notably secured a third place in Monaco.
But Briatore believes that much work remains before a sustainable return to the front can be considered.
Briatore wants to rebuild Alpine’s stability
For the Italian, the priority is now to consolidate the technical department after several particularly turbulent years.
“For us, it’s about consolidating the technical side because we now have the engine and we need to improve the team’s technological quality,” explains Briatore.
When he took an active role at Alpine, he says he found a structure weakened by the many changes that occurred over previous seasons.
“When I arrived at Alpine, the situation was quite bad. We were losing a lot of people and there were too many changes, with a different management every year. There was no continuity.”
Briatore now wants to gradually rebuild this stability.
“Little by little, we need to rebuild a solid technical structure and regain continuity to progress. We need major improvements technically, but we also absolutely have to improve in all areas if we want to win.”
Alpine is still looking to recruit
Briatore acknowledges that Alpine still wants to strengthen its staff with new skills. But he especially does not want to recruit a big name just for prestige.
“We especially need to reorganize the platform we have, and that takes time. We need someone with experience. We are looking, but it’s not easy.”
The Italian leader is even particularly wary of profiles that have become extremely renowned in the paddock.
“More than a big name, we need someone competent, because many big names are actually not good at all. Formula 1 creates monsters and, after a while, you find out if the monster works or not.”
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Briatore notably cites Aston Martin to illustrate his reasoning. Despite considerable investments in its infrastructure and the recruitment of several major figures, the British team has not yet achieved the expected results.
“Lawrence Stroll has done an incredible job building the factory and everything else, but the results are not at the same level. So we will never recruit a huge profile just because it’s a big name.”
“We created the big names”
Briatore prefers to bet on a structure capable of developing its own talents. He recalls that several engineers who became F1 references built part of their reputation within the teams he managed.
“We created very big names with Ross Brawn, Bob Bell, Pat Symonds, and James Allison.”
His philosophy is therefore more about bringing together the right people than looking for a savior figure.
“We found a method by working with young people and with the structure. What we are looking for is not a big name, but a group of people capable of working together and achieving results.”
Two or three years to bring Alpine back to the top?
Briatore does not expect to transform Alpine overnight. According to him, rebuilding a team capable of winning requires several seasons.
“It takes some time. But some time is not ten years: it’s two or three years. It was the same when I first arrived at Benetton and when we did the same with Renault.”
This transformation has already led to a deep restructuring at Enstone. Briatore states that the workforce has decreased from about 1,300 to 900 people since his arrival.
A reduction he describes as painful but necessary to make the organization more efficient.
“When you talk about restructuring a company, there is a process. It’s very painful at first, but now we see where we are going.”
Alpine therefore intends to continue its rise without seeking a technical superstar capable of transforming everything alone. For Briatore, the return to the top will primarily come through stability, an efficient structure, and a collective capable of progressing over several seasons.
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