The BWT Alpine F1 Team has officially welcomed back Flavio Briatore as the Executive Advisor for its Formula 1 Division. With this strategic move, the team aims to leverage Briatore’s extensive experience and track record to enhance its performance and competitiveness in the fiercely contested world of Formula 1 racing.
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Revamping Team Structure and Strategy
The Alpine F1 Team has faced a challenging season, marred by internal disruptions and underwhelming performance. Before the season’s first race, the French press reported the resignations of Technical Director Matt Harman and Head of Aerodynamics Dirk de Beer, driven by dissatisfaction with the A524’s performance. The team soon confirmed these departures, prompting a significant reorganization of the technical management structure. Inspired by McLaren’s successful ‘tripartite’ management model, Alpine adopted a similar approach aiming to instil greater efficiency and innovation within the team.
Team Principal Bruno Famin has been at the forefront of these restructuring efforts, working tirelessly to revitalize the team’s managerial and technical frameworks. In early May, Alpine bolstered its technical leadership with the return of David Sanchez as Technical Director. Despite the tumultuous changes, drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly have shown resilience, translating their internal team dynamics into fierce on-track battles, as evidenced in races in Miami and Monaco. Encouragingly, since Miami, the team has accumulated points in the constructors’ championship, indicating that the new measures are beginning to yield positive results.
A Storied Past and a Promising Future
Flavio Briatore’s return marks a significant milestone for Alpine. His history with the Enstone-based team is illustrious; he famously discovered Michael Schumacher’s talent and brought him to Benetton, leading to two world championships in 1994 and 1995. After Schumacher’s departure, the team rebranded as Renault and experienced a resurgence under Briatore’s leadership, with Fernando Alonso securing back-to-back championships in 2005 and 2006.
I don’t really mind about the past; I’m always looking at the future and what we can do to improve our team. Flavio Briatore has 40 years of experience in Formula 1; he knows how to operate a winning team. He has an excellent record and several world titles, and he will bring this experience and this fighting spirit to the team. He is the adviser to the Group CEO, but he will advise the team.
Bruno Famin
Team Principal, Alpine F1 Team
However, Briatore’s career has been subject to controversy. The infamous Crashgate scandal led to a lifetime ban from FIA events, although a French tribunal later overturned this. Despite this, Bruno Famin has expressed complete confidence in Briatore’s capabilities, emphasizing his focus on the future and the positive impact Briatore is expected to bring.
“I don’t really mind about the past; I’m always looking at the future and how we can improve our team. Flavio Briatore has 40 years of experience in Formula 1; he knows how to operate a winning team. He has an excellent record and several world titles, and he will bring this experience and this fighting spirit to the team. He is the adviser to the Group CEO, but he will advise the team,” Famin stated.
“There is an obvious goal to improve the team’s competitiveness as fast as possible, and we are looking for strong support,” he added, highlighting the urgency and ambition driving Alpine’s recent strategic decisions.
A New Era for Alpine
Briatore’s appointment has rekindled hope among Alpine fans, who now dare to dream of their team competing at the pinnacle of the sport once more. With his deep knowledge of the sport and proven ability to steer teams to victory, Briatore is a catalyst for the team’s resurgence.
As Alpine embarks on this new chapter, the focus remains firmly on leveraging past experiences to build a successful future. Strategic restructuring, leadership reinforcements, and Briatore’s advisory role are poised to propel the team back into contention, aiming for top positions in the highly competitive Formula 1 landscape.
