£700m F1 team now planning on replacing their team principal during the summer break

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There’s a reason why the Formula 1 paddock is known as the Piranha Club and the summer break could prove exactly why.

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez is set to discover his fate after the Belgian Grand Prix after a tough recent spell.

That will have a ripple effect within the Red Bull hierarchy and potentially the wider driver market with several seats still available for 2025.

However, movements also take place away from the grid which can have far-reaching implications.

Audi blinked first in the team principal market despite not even being on the grid yet.

Andreas Seidl has been replaced by Mattia Binotto who has 18 months to prepare the German manufacturer for their F1 debut.

He faces an uphill task with the current Sauber team yet to score a point this season and way off the mark.

A report from Formula.hu has shared that another team on the grid are planning to make a change in the summer break.

Alpine are another manufacturer having a tough time both on and off the track.

Only Williams and the aforementioned Sauber have scored fewer points than Alpine and only one driver – Pierre Gasly – is confirmed for next season.

The £700m-valued team have also brought in Flavio Briatore as an advisor and it looks like he’s making things happen behind the scenes.

It’s now being reported that team principal Bruno Famin will be replaced as team principal during the summer break.

Alpine are in familiar territory having sacked Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend last year.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Bruno Famin set to be replaced by Alpine during the summer break

The report suggests that talk in the paddock right now is that Famin will be moved on after the Belgian Grand Prix.

Briatore has played a key role in the decision but Famin is unlikely to be sacked and instead will be involved in other motorsport programs within the Renault group.

Alpine want to make a decision on his replacement as quickly as possible but at this time haven’t selected a candidate yet.

Mattia Binotto was considered by Alpine but he’s now committed his future to Audi.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Alpine’s F1 executive adviser Flavio Briatore

Alpine still have power unit and driver decisions to make ahead of 2025

It’s clear that whatever is going on at Alpine isn’t working as expected this season.

Gasly and Esteban Ocon are fast enough drivers to have more than nine points between them after 13 race weekends.

Briatore is exploring potential options when it comes to changing the team’s power unit with Renault’s engine underperforming.

It appears as though Alpine have potentially reached an agreement with Mercedes to use their engines as soon as next season.

However, there is now talk that Alpine face strikes from their engine staff as a result of the decision.

When it comes to their driver situation, Alpine have made an improved offer for Sainz but he’s in no rush to choose his next destination.

The French team are in a state of limbo but Briatore appears to be making big moves to try and prepare them for the future.