As noted earlier this week regarding Valtteri Bottas, the game of Formula 1 driver musical chairs is starting to wind down. Only four seats remain available for 2025, including a spot at Sauber — Bottas’ current team — and spots at Visa Cash App RB F1 Team and Mercedes.
The fourth and final spot that is available? That comes over at Alpine. While the French-based team has already lined up Pierre Gasly on a new “multi-year” deal, the spot next to Gasly remains open. Several drivers have been linked to that spot, including current Alpine reserve Jack Doohan as well as Mick Schumacher, who drives for Alpine on the World Endurance Championship side of the operation. Carlos Sainz Jr. was also linked with Alpine, before deciding to sign with Williams on a “multi-year” deal of his own.
However, did new Alpine executive Flavio Briatore shine a light on who that driver might be, or at least the kind of driver they are aiming for? Speaking recently on the Formula For Success podcast with former driver David Coulthard and former team owner Eddie Jordan, Briatore addressed how he views “the new Alpine,” as well as sharing some thoughts on what the team needs to improve, and what they need from their new driver.
Addressing expectations for the team going forward, Briatore outlined a two-year timeline for Alpine’s next podium.
“Alpine, I promise you. Alpine give me two years,” said Briatore. “In two years’ time, we see the podium.”
As for who their second driver will be, Briatore dismissed the question, pointing at the laundry list of improvements that he is hoping to see at Alpine.
“I don’t know yet,” said Briatore when asked by Jordan when Alpine would pick their second driver. “You know, [at] this moment … you need [to[ put the team together, from the commercial side, the technical side, the management side.
“The driver [makes] no difference. Now the difference [will be] in 2006, 2007, 2008. This would be the difference for the driver.”
After noting how Carlos Sainz Jr. was “close” to signing with Williams (the podcast was recorded near the end of July) Briatore returned to the elements at Alpine that need to be improved, focusing first on the car itself.
“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,” said Briatore.
“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.”
While Briatore did not indicate who the second driver would be, those comments seem to be in line with a driver on the younger side. Reading into Briatore’s comments a bit, he talks about how improving the car first is the priority, and when the car is finally good, you then need a good driver.
That could point to either of the younger options — Doohan and Schumacher — as being the move for Alpine. After all, a year or two of experience would help them grow into a better driver, hopefully, the “good” driver Briatore is eyeing by the time Alpine can deliver a better car.
Photo by Michael Potts/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Both Schumacher and Doohan, for different reasons, can also help with the development of that car. Regarding Doohan he passed on competing in F2 for another season to focus exclusively on his reserve driver duties, offering simulator feedback as well as participating in multiple testing sessions.
That feedback, in Doohan’s own words, has been important for the team in their effort to improve the A524 this season. Doohan described this to me during our discussion at the Miami Grand Prix, “I get to spend in season as much and as many races as I can [to be] on the simulator, on the Friday, [and during] the race [for] sim support. So it’s a great opportunity to be able to test further components, [that we aren’t] able to test on the track due to the limitations of time,” described Doohan to me in May. “So I’m able to be in the simulator from the sun up until midnight running through every possible thing that we’d like to in the conditions.
“So it’s very important and very crucial to making sure we maximize each and every weekend, which helps also development [of the car].”
As for Schumacher, his experience as a full-time driver on the grid can also be a benefit to Alpine, as they look to improve their challenger for 2024 and beyond.
While we do not know when Alpine will name their second driver — nor do we know who that driver will be — Briatore’s comments seem in line with a driver along the Doohan/Schumacher lines. Our money is still on Doohan, but we might not know for sure for a few more weeks.
