The director of the Alpine F1 team, Flavio Briatore, has expressed that the easiest way to ensure victories in the championship is to sign Max Verstappen, the Dutch pilot, who would bring immediate success to any team to which he joined. Brater, 75, currently serves as executive advisor and de facto director of the Alpine team, and shared his perspective before the Spanish Grand Prix on the ambitions and challenges of the team.
Briatore said that Alpine can win races in 2026 and aspires to compete for the World Championship in 2027. He emphasized that changing the Mercedes power units was a difficult but necessary decision, since having the same tools that the rivals is crucial to win in Formula 1. acknowledged that Alpine had stayed behind in this aspect for historical reasons, but insisted that with the new regulations of 2026 The teams that best interpret these changes will have a competitive advantage. He praised Renault, Alpine and Luca De Meo for making brave decisions that prepared the team for success. When asked about the possibility of winning a title within this period, Briatore admitted that signing Max Verstappen would be the easiest way to achieve it. However, he acknowledged that this is not possible, so the team must work with the available resources.
Alpine has recently experienced significant pilots, including the replacement of Jack Doohan for Franco Colapinto after the Miami Grand Prix. Meanwhile, it has been linked to Max Verstappen with a possible output of Red Bull Racing in the face of concern about Red Bull’s competitiveness against rivals such as McLaren. Although Alpine is not currently linked to Verstappen, the important regulatory changes that are coming in 2026 could turn Alpine into a more attractive option for Verstappen if you are looking for a new challenge beyond Red Bull.
As for his future, Max Verstappen approached the rumors of his Red Bull departure during the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. Despite the speculation generated by the recent problems of Red Bull against McLaren and other teams, Verstappen minimized the possibility of an exit. He said he is focused exclusively on his car and working with his current team, keeping calm about speculation.
According to reports, Verstappen is linked to several teams, including Aston Martin, who recently hired Chief Designer Adrian Newey and partnered with Honda, the engine supplier behind the four world championships of Verstappen to date. It is still uncertain if Verstappen will leave Red Bull before the 2026 season.
In summary, Flavio Briatore considers that signing Max Verstappen is the most direct route to win championships, but since this is not feasible, Alpine must maximize its current assets and adapt to the new regulations to be competitive. Meanwhile, Verstappen is still focused on its current team despite the rumors of a possible transfer, since the 2026 regulatory reform could transform the Formula 1 pilot market.
