Red Bull’s previous negotiations with Flavio Briatore suggest Franco Colapinto move could be easier said than done

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The Formula 1 driver’s market rumour mill has already been put in motion after just two races.

The Chinese Grand Prix saw new Red Bull driver Liam Lawson qualify P20 for both races and fail to score his first point of the year.

Lawson could be swapped out for Yuki Tsunoda as quickly as the Japanese Grand Prix, which would make him the shortest-serving driver in Red Bull’s history.

The obvious decision would then be to put Lawson in Tsunoda’s Racing Bulls seat, but an alternative has suddenly emerged.

Franco Colapinto has been linked with a move to Racing Bulls to step up into Tsunoda’s place, which would leave Lawson without a seat.

In the past, Red Bull would have had to negotiate with Williams for the Argentine’s signature after they promoted him last season.

However, Alpine signed Colapinto in the winter as a back-up to Jack Doohan which means Red Bull now have to negotiate with the notorious Flavio Briatore.

Red Bull have had to deal with Briatore before, and it’s never been the most straightforward of discussions

READ MORE: Who is Alpine’s F1 executive adviser Flavio Briatore? Everything to know

Fernando Alonso returns to Renault in 2008 after snubbing Red Bull

Fernando Alonso was a two-time world champion when he decided to move from Renault to McLaren in 2007.

After back-to-back championships, he left Briatore’s team to race for Ron Dennis but it wasn’t the season he expected.

Alonso and Lewis Hamilton clashed with the British rookie, taking him by surprise with how quick he was.

Red Bull tried to sign Alonso for the following year but instead he decided on a return to Briatore’s outfit.

Incredibly, Red Bull were favourites to get Alonso, as per The Guardian, before announcing his return, and the Italian chief said at the time, via Autosport: “Fernando and Nelsinho will form one of the most exciting driver line-ups of 2008.

“We are delighted to be welcoming Fernando back home to the team where he enjoyed his greatest success. His abilities as a driver and a team leader are well known, and we look forward to forging another strong partnership.”

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2

Red Bull miss out on Mark Webber in 2005

Mark Webber was racing for Jaguar in 2004, ahead of the takeover of Red Bull the following year.

While it would have made sense to keep the Australian and partner him with David Coulthard, instead, he ended up spending two seasons at Williams.

Webber could have ended up at McLaren but according to the Australian in an interview with Motorsport Magazine, Briatore – his manager – was barred from negotiations.

Jaguar failed to match the performance clauses needed to keep Webber before Red Bull’s takeover and instead, Briatore organised a move to Williams.

Red Bull got their man two years later when Webber was signed in 2007 to partner Coulthard, and he ended up helping the team win their first of many constructors’ championships.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Franco Colapinto? Everything to know

Red Bull reignite interest in Franco Colapinto after 2024 negotiations

As soon as Franco Colapinto made his Formula 1 debut for Williams, he was being linked with every vacant – and sometimes not vacant – seat in the paddock.

Red Bull held an interest in Colapinto because Sergio Perez wasn’t performing to the required level and there were question marks over whether any of the team’s junior drivers were ready.

Several high-profile crashes led Red Bull to look elsewhere, but they might be in need of another driver quickly over the next few weeks, and the 21-year-old would be keen to jump into any available position.

However, this time, Red Bull must negotiate with Briatore as well as Williams whom the Argentine is still technically contracted to which would make any deal particularly complicated.

Briatore will want compensation if he has to let one of his many reserve drivers go, and with Jack Doohan’s future far from certain, reaching an agreement may prove difficult.