Flavio Briatore gave the world a masterclass in strategic ambiguity this week. Praise Franco Colapinto warmly. Drop a hint about keeping him for 2027. Then remind everyone you were right about Fernando Alonso when the entire British press called you mad. Classic Briatore.
The Colapinto Verdict: Cautiously Positive
Speaking on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Alpine executive adviser Briatore was measured but encouraging about the Argentine’s progress.
“Franco is integrating much better in the team. He’s improving a lot, mentally, technically, relationship with the team. We need to help him. Little by little, the confidence has arrived.” – Flavio Briatore
Colapinto arrived at Alpine with zero points to his name from a chaotic debut campaign. This season he has 16, including a P6 in Canada and multiple qualifying scalps against Pierre Gasly. The improvement is real. Whether it is enough is the question Briatore is very deliberately not answering yet.
He drew a parallel with his old Renault double-acts, citing Alonso alongside Fisichella and Trulli as proof that two drivers can coexist productively. His message on retaining Colapinto for 2027 was essentially: maybe, if things continue, before the summer break. Which is Briatore-speak for “we haven’t decided, don’t push me.”
You can read more about Alpine’s competitive position in our Austrian GP preview, where the midfield battle is shaping up nicely.
The Alonso Story: Always a Classic
Briatore also revisited his decision to drop Jenson Button in favour of Alonso before the 2003 season. The British media, he recalled gleefully, accused him of nepotism given he was Alonso’s manager at the time.
“You fired the world champion to take this Spanish guy! I always say, you can only in the future tell me if I was right or not. I was right!” – Flavio Briatore
He was, of course. Alonso delivered Renault back-to-back titles. Briatore has been dining on that story ever since, and honestly, fair enough.
Gucci, Wallets, and Verstappen
On the subject of the incoming Gucci title sponsorship, Briatore called it one of the biggest deals in his entire F1 career, harder to close than Mild Seven or Telefónica, partly because of the sheer number of stakeholders involved. When asked if he needed a driver like Max Verstappen to win a title, his response was refreshingly blunt: “First I need a wallet.”
The Bottom Line
Briatore is building something at Alpine, and the Gucci money will help. Colapinto is improving. The Alonso comparison is flattering but premature. The summer break decision will tell us everything. Until then, Briatore will keep you guessing, and he will enjoy every second of it.
