Things change quickly in F1. Alpine know this better than most, having fallen from 4th in the standings to 7th in just two seasons. Carlos Sainz is no stranger to the sport’s volatility either, having been abruptly replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton. Sainz will make a decision on his future soon, and Alpine are among those vying for his signature.
Could the Briatore factor change things for Sainz?
Only a few days ago, Alpine announced the arrival of Flavio Briatore. The former Renault team principal was appointed by Luca de Meo, CEO of the Renault Group.
Since Briatore’s return was first reported several weeks ago, it was anticipated he could change the playing field for team Enstone in the driver market. Helping the French squad acquire the best talents, both from an engineering and driving perspective, is his priority.
Highlighting other areas of weakness, in terms of infrastructure or procedure, is also within Briatore’s prerogative.
Within days of overseeing the Alpine garage (of course, coincidentally), the A524 mustered the necessary pace for a double-Q3 and double-points finish.
However, this is not the only major development from the Spanish GP for Alpine. Briatore was spotted exchanging phone numbers with Carlos Sainz Sr, father of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
Alpine one of many options in the midfield
The 29-year-old was very transparent when discussing his future in Spain. He admitted that, despite having many months to assess the market, a decision is yet to be made.
It is no secret that several teams are negotiating with Sainz. Williams and Sauber have been the front-runners to secure his services for several weeks.
With Red Bull and Mercedes now out of the picture, Sainz must settle for a place in the midfield. His reluctance to reach a deal with Sauber, who will enter 2026 as Audi, shows his limited faith in the German engine manufacturer.
In many says, the Spaniard’s hesitance is consistent with the paddock consensus. Established names like Mercedes and Ferrari are expected to produce better power units in 2026.
This has made Williams an attractive option. Not only are they Mercedes-powered, but they are willing to give Sainz a far more flexible contract than Sauber.
Speaking bluntly, neither of these teams are expected to be front-runners next year. They are largely unknowns for 2026, with neither having winning track records over the last decade.
Because of this, Alpine cannot be fully discounted. Of course, the French outfit lacks both performance on-track and stability away from it. Their openness to abandoning the Renault engine in 2026 is not hugely encouraging either.
Still, with Sainz yet to make a decision, Alpine’s interest must be tracked. The lack of established front-runners could tempt Sainz to take a risk ahead of the new regulations.
