Colapinto backs Briatore’s ruthless approach as Alpine targets the F1 summit

Alpine refuses to settle for midfield success

After an extremely difficult 2025 season, Alpine has moved back into the fight to become Formula 1’s ‘best of the rest’ team. Yet Franco Colapinto says that simply leading the midfield is not enough for an Enstone operation with ambitions of closing the gap to Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren.

The Argentine driver believes Flavio Briatore’s demanding leadership style is central to that objective. Although the executive advisor can be ruthless in both his decisions and communication, Colapinto argues that Alpine needs precisely that level of pressure if it is to challenge the established front-runners.

“I believe in his process,” Colapinto said. “You have to understand him. But I think to succeed in F1 and to achieve the goal that every midfield team has – to catch Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren – you need someone like Flavio.”

Why Canada changed the mood

Colapinto pointed to the Canadian Grand Prix as the clearest example of Briatore’s approach. Alpine scored a double points finish in Montreal, with its cars taking sixth and eighth places. For most teams in the midfield, that would represent an emphatic result. Briatore, however, was not satisfied.

According to Colapinto, Briatore was particularly concerned by Alpine’s performance deficit to Ferrari compared with Miami, while also noting that Racing Bulls had moved closer to the team.

“Everyone was really happy with the points, but he was like, no no, I want more. I don't like where we are and Racing Bulls is too close to us as well,” Colapinto told media. “I want answers and I want to improve more.”

That refusal to accept a good result as sufficient is, in Colapinto’s view, what makes Briatore valuable. He described the Italian as a “competitive animal” who returned to Formula 1 to win, not merely to make Alpine competitive in the midfield.

Progress, but no satisfaction

Colapinto said Alpine has made major steps forward during the first half of the year, but the team remains unsatisfied after being overtaken by Racing Bulls in recent weekends before the summer break, both for outright pace and in the standings. Alpine’s upcoming development push has therefore been described as critical in the midfield battle, as outlined in this report on the team’s Zandvoort upgrades.

Commercially, the forthcoming Gucci title sponsorship is another sign of Alpine’s intended direction. Colapinto sees the partnership as a vote of confidence in the project and believes the added financial flexibility could help the team take its next step, while also easing the broader financial burden connected with parent company Renault.

“Many good things are happening at the moment,” he said. “I think it shows that the direction we are taking now is the correct one.”

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Souce: Motorsport.com