Pierre Gasly has expressed unwavering confidence in Flavio Briatore’s ability to restore Alpine to its former glory, declaring that « not even the sky is the limit » for the seasoned Formula 1 strategist. Briatore, who previously led the Enstone-based team to championship victories with Michael Schumacher in the 1990s and Fernando Alonso in the 2000s, returned to Alpine in May as an executive advisor to Renault CEO Luca de Meo.
Gasly’s endorsement comes amid a period of significant upheaval for Alpine, which saw the departures of CEO Laurent Rossi, team principal Otmar Szafnauer, and sporting director Alan Permane. Briatore’s reappointment marks a dramatic comeback for the Italian, who left F1 in disgrace following the « Crashgate » scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
Briatore’s history with the Enstone team is undeniably storied. Under his leadership, the squad clinched multiple world championships, first with Schumacher and later with Alonso. His return signals Alpine’s intent to recapture its winning DNA, though the team currently struggles to compete at the front of the grid.
Gasly, who joined Alpine in 2023, believes Briatore’s expertise and relentless drive could be the catalyst for a resurgence. « Flavio has this unique ability to inspire and push everyone beyond their limits, » Gasly remarked. « His vision and experience are exactly what we need to become contenders again. »
Alpine’s recent performance has fallen short of expectations, with the team grappling to extract pace from its car and engine package. Briatore’s task will be to streamline operations, foster innovation, and attract top talent—a challenge he has embraced head-on.
