With which attitude the former Formula 1 team boss Flavio Briatore is now working as a consultant for the Alpine works team: Would he get Adrian Newey?
Flavio Briatore has a reputation for being a tough businessman. This is probably why the Renault Group brought him back into Formula 1, where Briatore now works as a consultant for the Alpine works team. The former team boss of Benetton and Renault has now explained the attitude with which he approaches his tasks
Briatore says: “If you’re in this business, you talk to people. You have to be involved, whatever the industry. Whether it’s motorsport, a restaurant or entertainment, you have to be in business.”
But: Alpine was not in business. This is how Briatore’s words can be interpreted when he continues: “Alpine was kind of sitting in the corner. Nobody was talking about Alpine, but now we’re here.”
Since Briatore’s appointment as consultant, some far-reaching decisions have been made at Enstone in England and Viry-Chatillon in France. And perhaps the biggest upheaval in the history of the Alpine works team is still to come if the brand decides against its own engine and in favor of switching to Mercedes customer engines from the 2026 season.
The new Alpine philosophy makes it possible, says Briatore: “We have the funding and the support of the chairman. We have a large group behind us. And when a good opportunity arises, we seize it. It’s as simple as that.”
Briatore is asked whether he sees Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey as just such an opportunity. Since announcing his departure from Red Bull, Newey has been courted by practically every team, but will probably soon be introduced as a new addition to Aston Martin.
Briatore jokes: “Anything in life is possible, but he was too cheap for me!” Then he gets serious: “The bottom line is that Formula 1 is not an ego trip. One man alone does not change the team. Of course you can buy whatever you like. But the result is not in relation to your purchases.”
The latter can also be understood as a verbal side blow towards Aston Martin, whether intended by Briatore or not. Aston Martin poaches a lot of personnel from other Formula 1 teams, including some high-ranking engineers such as technical directors or former team bosses. So far, however, this aggressive approach has not been reflected in results on the race track.
Alpine is also lagging behind its own aspirations: the declared aim is to build on the successes of the 2000s (as Renault) and 1990s (as Benetton), when the racing team from Enstone won the world championship several times. Team principal at the time for (among others) Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher: Flavio Briatore
