Alpine to begin major shake-up, starting with appointment of a new team principal
The last twelve months have been turbulent for Alpine, both on and off track. Poor development has seen the French outfit plummet down F1’s pecking order, scoring just nine points this season. These results have triggered a series of managerial changes, including the appointment of Flavio Briatore. With the summer break approaching, bigger changes are anticipated from Alpine.
Following his departure from the team, Esteban Ocon confirmed the agreement to a multi-year contract with the Haas F1 Team.
The Frenchman will join Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri as marquee names to have left Alpine since the end of 2022.
Ocon’s exit, three years after signing a blockbuster four-year deal with Team Enstone, is evidence of the significantly new direction being forged at the team.
However, perhaps the more impactful developments at Alpine do not concern their driver pairing. Instead, they relate to the senior figures who will manage the team going forward.
Bruno Famin expected to be replaced
Almost exactly twelve months ago, Bruno Famin was made Alpine team principal – replacing the departing Otmar Szafnauer. Initially, the Frenchman was only intended to be an interim appointment.
However, Alpine’s failure to sign a desired replacement (with Mattia Binotto understood to have been on their shortlist) meant that Fmain was kept in charge to start the 2024 season.
In his relatively short time overseeing Alpine’s operations, Famin’s tenure was an eventful one.
His reaction to Esteban Ocon’s incident with Pierre Gasly in Monaco, though perhaps not decisive, certainly played a major role in the 27-year-old’s abrupt exit.
Despite this, it has become increasingly clear that Flavio Briatore has become the most influential person at Alpine since being assigned the Executive advisor role.
It is under Briatore that negotiations with Sainz have ignited. The 74-year-old has also been instrumental in the team’s negotiations to switch to Mercedes power.
Because of this, it can hardly be said that Famin’s exit will necessarily impact the team significantly.
Instead, the anticipated arrival of a new team principal is a reminder of the ever-unpredictable landscape at Alpine. This turbulent environment continues to generate underwhelming results.
The scepticism surrounding the team’s F1 project will unlikely end anytime soon. After all, the team is again in a state of flux and transition.
With the A524’s on-track performance still uninspiring, the main news from Alpine in the foreseeable future can be expected to concern further managerial changes.
