Franco Colapinto shares a story about Flavio Briatore, who isn’t satisfied with small successes: Will Alpine become even stronger with Gucci in 2027?
After an extremely difficult 2025 season, Alpine is once again fighting for the “Best of the Rest” title this year—in other words, to lead the Formula 1 midfield behind the top four teams. However, the Enstone-based team’s ambitions go far beyond that, which is especially true for Flavio Briatore, the flamboyant chief advisor who effectively runs the team.
As is well known, the now 76-year-old Italian can be ruthless both in his decisions and in his communication—a fact Franco Colapinto has already experienced firsthand on multiple occasions. Nevertheless, the Argentine driver believes that Briatore’s approach is necessary to ultimately close the gap to the top.
“I believe in his process. You have to understand him. But I think that to be successful in Formula 1 and achieve the goal that every midfield team has—namely, catching up to Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren—you need someone like Flavio.”
According to Colapinto, the most telling example came after the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Alpine finished in the points with both cars at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which—given the gap to the top four teams—would normally be considered a success. Briatore, however, saw it differently.
“We finished sixth and eighth in Canada—those were fantastic points for the team. But after the race, Flavio wasn’t satisfied at all and kept pushing the team. He was almost the most unhappy person on the entire team,”
“The reason was how far behind Ferrari we were compared to Miami. He wanted to understand why that was the case. Everyone was very happy about the points, but he just said, ‘No, no, I want more. I don’t like where we stand, and Racing Bulls is too close on our heels. They’re closer than they were in Miami, so why is this happening? I want answers, and I want us to improve even further.’”
Colapinto: Alpine Needs Briatore’s Style
Briatore’s leadership style may come across as harsh, but according to Colapinto, that’s exactly what’s needed in Formula 1 to reach the top—especially for a team like Alpine that needs to make up ground.
“Putting that pressure on the team, even when things are going well, is his way of leading the team. And from my personal perspective, it’s a way to be successful in F1 and catch up to the top teams,” said the Argentine.
“Flavio is a total competitor. He only returned to Formula 1 to win, and I really appreciate that because I’m exactly the same way.”
That means Alpine’s progress this year isn’t yet enough to satisfy the team. Yes, after the disastrous 2025 season, the first half of this year was undoubtedly a step forward, but it’s still not where the bar is set.
“I’m very proud of the strides we’ve made, but we’re all extremely ambitious and won’t settle for simply being at the top of the midfield. It’s true that the strides this year have been huge, but we’re always striving for more,” said Colapinto.
Can the Gucci deal help Alpine take the next step?
This applies not only on the racing front but also on the commercial side. Gucci will come on board as the team’s title sponsor next season, and according to Colapinto, Briatore’s influence is also evident in this development.
The 23-year-old views Gucci’s announcement in two ways. First, he sees it as confirmation that Alpine is back on an upward trajectory after 2025. A prestigious brand like Gucci wouldn’t want to partner with a team that’s hopelessly lagging behind. For Colapinto, the deal is therefore a vote of confidence—at the very least, there is belief in the project’s potential.
Second, Colapinto believes the partnership will help Alpine turn its ambitions for the next step into reality. The deal gives the team greater financial flexibility, which is also important in relation to its parent company, Renault. After all, if the heaviest financial burdens can be spread across more shoulders, it makes the overall financial picture considerably more attractive.
Although Colapinto himself does not yet have a contract for 2027, he believes that the Gucci deal could nevertheless herald the next step for “Team Enstone”—a step he would very much like to be a part of.
“A lot of good things are happening right now—new partnerships and a lot going on around us. The deal with Gucci is one of those things and an important milestone. So, yes, I think it shows that the direction we’re heading in now is the right one.”
