Jordan: Briatore wants Alpine on the F1 podium by 2026 or 2027

The team's controversial consultant, Flavio Briatore, has let it be known that Grand Prix podiums in a couple of years are on the wishlist for the revamped Alpine project. Who did he tell? Old foe and former F1 team principal Eddie Jordan, who revealed as much during a Formula for Success podcast.

Jordan said he had "no doubt Alpine" would be a F1 front-runner in a couple of years, despite being anchored to the wrong end of the grid for far too long. Why? Because Flav says so.

"I promise you, Eddie, by ’26 or ’27, Alpine will be on the podium," Jordan confided. "I’m not going to stand up and say I disagree, because I actually do agree. He has a magic wand that is able to make things happen.

“Flavio wants to build the best car possible; we’ve already said this, and then the best driver will naturally be attracted to that car—and that’s his way. That’s his philosophy," ventured Jordan, whose F1 team has since morphed into Aston Martin after a long and colourful journey through F1 in various guises.

Alpine are second last in the 2024 F1 World Championship standings with only 13 points scored by their drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. Esteban is in his last year with the team before his move to Haas, and Pierre will welcome academy driver Jack Doohan as his teammate next year.

During his spell as F1 team owner, from 1991 and 250 GPs until 2005, 76-year-old Jordan had several legendary encounters with Briatore, who ruled the roost first at Benetton and then Renault.

Jordan recalled: “I could be having a meeting with one of my major sponsors, or my bank manager, or whoever, and Flavio just burst in. That’s the way he was—but that was reciprocated; I would do the same, and that doesn’t happen now.

Flavio was a very special man in my time in Formula 1. Some things I hated him for, and some things I loved him for, but you know what he can do," added Jordan, suggesting the Italian 76-year-old will find the winning touch that he once had in F1.

Apart from the Crashgate scandal, which will forever sully his name, Briatore did take Michael Schumacher from Jordan's F1 team and was part of the journey that made the German into the legend he is during the Benetton years. And then did much the same with Fernando Alonso, winner of Renault's only two F1 world titles (2005 and 2006).

While Briatore and newly appointed Alpine F1 team principal Ollie Oakes set about turning the French team around, there remains speculation - despite fervent "question finito" denials - that the team will be sold off. Top of the list of takers would be Oakes' own F1 Hitech ambitions or a way in for the General Motors-backed Andretti Global and their ready-to-roll project.

Time will tell if Flavio was conning Eddie again for whatever reason, or for a change the Italian told the Irishman the truth. Watch this space...