Briatore tipped for Alpine F1 role amid Renault frustration

Briatore's potential return to F1

According to reports from Italian and French media outlets, Flavio Briatore, the former Renault team principal, is being considered for a special advisory role at Alpine's Formula 1 team.

The 74-year-old is rumored to have been tapped up by Renault CEO Luca De Meo to aid the squad's recruitment efforts and bolster its Enstone headquarters and Viry-Chatillon engine plant.

Alpine's turbulent season

Alpine has endured a turbulent 10 months, starting with the removal of brand CEO Laurent Rossi by De Meo, followed by the departures of team principal Otmar Szafnauer and long-time sporting director Alan Permane.

The team also missed the mark with its 2024 car design, resulting in a slow start to the season after finishing sixth in 2022.

Technical director Matt Harman and head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer left the outfit in March, prompting interim team boss Bruno Famin to create a new three-pronged technical structure, including hiring David Sanchez from McLaren as the overarching tech chief.

Renault's frustration and potential shake-up

While Alpine has made progress in recent weeks, moving from the back of the grid to the midfield, there have been talks of Renault Group CEO De Meo's frustration with the team's lack of results.

Bringing in a controversial figure like Briatore could potentially shake things up further.

These rumors surface amidst reports of potential buyers, including Chinese manufacturer Geely, interested in acquiring the Enstone team, though Alpine has maintained that the team is not for sale.

Briatore's controversial past

Briatore's potential return to Formula 1 is sure to cause unease in certain quarters.

The former Benetton and Renault team principal served a paddock ban for his leading role in the 2008 Singapore 'Crashgate' scandal, though the lifetime ban was overturned in 2010.

Alpine's statement and uncertainty

Alpine has declined to confirm or deny Briatore's arrival, stating:

"As a team, we are in frequent contact with a number of industry experts in pursuit of improving overall performance."

" We consider all relevant inputs and, when appropriate, seek advice from people with experience and previous success. We cannot comment on any individual matters."

Briatore's potential advisory role at Alpine could bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team, potentially aiding in its recruitment efforts and overall performance improvement.

However, his controversial past and the uncertainty surrounding his involvement could also create unease within the paddock and raise questions about the team's direction and decision-making processes.