Alpine are💛 focusing on restructuring their team, rather th🅘an who will drive their car next year, Flavio Briatore claims.

The F1 veter🐲an has returned to the sport in an executive advisor role at Alpine.

Esteban Ocon’s time at the team will 𓂃end this year, and he will join Haa❀s in 2025, meaning Pierre Gasly needs a new teammate.

Reserve driver Jack Doohan is reportedly close to being promoted to a full-time race seat by Al🅰pine to replace Ocon.

But Briatore told the Formula For Succes🏅s podcast about their line-up: “I don’t know yet. In this momen𓂃t, the driver is not…

“In this mo💜ment you n🔜eed to put the team together from a commercial side, technical side, management side.

“The driver makes no difference now.

“The difference෴ was made in 2006, 2007, 2008. In this moment I believe only one driver w꧂as available, Carlos Sainz.”

Outgoing Ferrari driver Sain🍷z has opted to sign for Williams in 2025, ignoring inter෴est from Alpine and Sauber.

Alpine's vacant seat is one of just four remaining in the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:2025 F1 driver line-up.

Briatore continued: “For me, it’s just the performance of the car. It’s restructu⛄ring the team completely.

“If you have a good car, you n♐♛eed a good driver. If the car is not performing…

“We are putting all the energy into the technical side to make sure the ca🌜r of Alpine looks better, and better, and better.

“In 2026 I believe we will see the new Alpine.”

Briatore, now 74, was previously the Benetton team boss during Michael Schumaඣcher’s title-winning days.

He then oversaw Fernando Alonso’s championships with ♔Ren🍌ault.

His latest challenge is to turn around the Alpine F1 team, who h🌟ave endured a fraught 2024.

Among their i🐻ssues was Ocon, who clattered into teammate Gasly in Monaco, drawing the ire of his employꦜers.

Alpine later confirmed that Ocon would exit the team at the end of this year, an꧑d he has since signed for H🍷aas.