'Alpine was in the sh*t,' claims Flavio Briatore

Reflecting on his role at Enstone, Alpine's freshly-signed Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore insists that his presence at Alpine was desperately needed

Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Alpine announced a key change to its organisation, confirming Flavio Briatore as Executive Advisor.

The team had noted back then that Briatore's role would see him “predominantly focus on top level areas of the team”. His task would be to scout "top talents and providing insights on the driver market, challenging the existing project by assessing the current structure and advising on some strategic matters within the sport”.

Despite his involvement in the crash gate scandal in 2008, Briatore has been actively involved in Formula One in recent years as Fernando Alonso's manager. The Italian has frequently made appearances in the F1 paddock in attendance of the two-time world champion.

Briatore has now revealed that he had been in contact with Renault's chairman, Luca de Meo, but his advice was initially ignored when he offered his assessment of the Enstone-based outfit.

Speaking on the Formula For Success podcast, Briatore noted: "When he arrived, I gave him some suggestions. The people you have are not so good. He didn’t listen, zero."

Following three years of middling results, Briatore made the bold comment that he will be able to rebuild the team within two years.

"So after three years, he’s called me, we meet, ‘I mean, we are completely in the sh*t with the team. Give me two years, in two years’ time we see the podium. In 2027 we have a podium,” Briatore boldly stated.

Alpine has recently extended Pierre Gasly's contract, but his team-mate Esteban Ocon will leave the Enstone-based team at the end of the current season. Two drivers - Mick Schumacher and Mick Doohan - have been rumoured to have a chance at the second Alpine seat.

The former F1 driver and the former F2 racer have completed a test recently, and although the team did not confirmed, it has emerged that the Australian displayed more impressive performance during their qualifying simulations.

Expanding on the drivers' situation, Briatore claimed that he does not sacrifice an enormous focus for the drivers as he thinks that the car's perfromance needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

“And for me in this moment [it] is just the performance of the car. You know, it’s just working the restructuring. the team completely. If you have a good car, you need a good driver.

“If the car is not performing at this point, in this moment, I want to make sure we put all the energy in the technical side, and make sure the car at Alpine is looking better, better and better and improving for next year. And 2026 I believe, is when we see the new Alpine," Briatore concluded.