Alpine are focusing on restructuring their team, rather than who will drive their car next year, Flavio Briatore claims꧟.

The💞 F1 veteran has returned to the sport in an exeꦉcutive advisor role at Alpine.

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

Reserve driver Jack Doohan is reportedly close to ওbeing promoted to a full-time race seat by Alpine to replace Ocon.

But Briatore𒅌 told the Formula For Success podcast about their line-up: “I don’t know yet. In thi🐼s moment, the driver is not…

“In this moment you need to put the team together from a commercial sid🎶e, 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 was available, Carlos Sainz.ꩵ”

Outgoing Ferrari driver Sainz has opted to💟 sign for Williams in 2025, ignoring interest from Alpine and Sauber.

Alpine's vacant seat is one of just four remaining in the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:2025 F1 driver line-up.

Briatore con𒅌tinued: “For me, it’s just the performance of the car. It’s restructuring the team completely.

“If you⛎ have a good car, you need a good driver. If the car ꧙is not performing…

“We are putting all the energy into the technical side to make sure the car of Alpine looks better, a✨nd better, and better.

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

Briatore, now 74, was previously the Benetton team boss during Michael Schumacher’s ti𝔍tle-winning 🧔days.

He then 💛oversaw Fernando Alonso’s championships with Renault.

His latest challenge is to turn around the Alpine F1 team,🍸 who have endured a fraught 2024.

Among their issues was Ocon, who clattere🍒d into teammate Gasly in Monaco, drawing the ire of his employers.

Alpine la🍸ter confirmed tha🍰t Ocon would exit the team at the end of this year, and he has since signed for Haas.