Briatore: Before we talk to star drivers, Alpine needs a competitive car

Renault's big boss, Luca de Meo, who oversaw the demise of the operation as a F1 engine supplier and turned the team into a customer outfit, is adamant the team is not for sale, while Briatore wants them to win races in a couple of years' time.

But before that happens, the F1 backmarkers have issues to sort out. Esteban Ocon's move to Haas is hardly a loss but left a gap for a driver to fill.

When Lewis Hamilton shocked the world by confirming his move to Ferrari in 2025, Carlos Sainz needed a drive and was allegedly romanced by Alpine until he signed with Williams. That means their academy driver Jack Doohan gets the nod to partner Pierre Gasly next year.

Was the Sainz rebuttal a blow for Alpine's revival? Briatore replied in an interview with Motorsport-Total: "No disappointment. Carlos was an opportunity, but it was too early. Before we talk about drivers, we first have to talk about a competitive car.

Briatore cites dismal stats for Alpine this year and in recent seasons for the reason a driver will not make an impact on their lowly stature in the current F1 pecking order: "If the car doesn't perform, it makes no difference which driver you put behind the wheel.

"One year ago, Red Bull won every race, and now other cars are competitive; another team [McLaren] with a young driver wins a race. I don't want to spend X million [on a driver] at the moment because it makes no difference to us," insisted Briatore, who ran the Enstone/Viry-Châtillon-based F1 team from 200 until 2009.

As for the pairing of 28-year-old Gasly and 21-year-old rookie Doohan, Briatore said: "We are very happy with Pierre, and now we have a young driver. If Carlos wants to call in 2026, we'll be here."

Turning the current Alpine mess into a Grand Prix-winning operation with newly instated team principal Oliver Oakes at the helm guided by Briatore is the focus for the future. "Now we have to clean up the house with Oli. We have to motivate the system as well as everyone at Alpine again."

Alpine are currently ninth (second last) in the 2024 F1 World Championship. They have 13 points after 18 of the 24 rounds this far. Next up is the United States Grand Prix at COTA in Texas.