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Alpine chief Flavio Briatore has picked out the ‘only’ driver transfer he expects in 2027 amid reports linking Fernando Alonso with a return to the team.
Two-time Formula 1 world champion Alonso has endured a nightmare season at Aston Martin, with the AMR26 proving to be extremely problematic.
Having scored only one point so far this season, Alonso was recently linked with Alpine.
A move back to the French team would see the Spaniard reunite with Briatore, the pair worked together when Alonso won his F1 titles in 2005 and 2006.
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Speaking recently to Italian news outlet Moto.It, Briatore named the ‘only’ driver move he expects to happen in 2027.
The 76-year-old claimed that ‘nothing will happen’ and stated that the ‘only move’ that might materialise is Max Verstappen moving from Red Bull to Mercedes.
He also touched on Alonso being a ‘phenomenon’, saying the 44-year-old and Lewis Hamilton are both ‘good for F1’.
Briatore said: “Unfortunately, Fernando doesn’t have a competitive car this year, but whenever he sees a glimmer of opportunity, he seizes it.
“Fernando is a phenomenon, just like Hamilton. I think both are good for F1; they are brands in their own right.
“I think nothing will happen in the end. The only move that might occur is Verstappen going to Mercedes.
“We’re happy with our drivers. We’ll see what happens in the future. After all, my job is to figure out what we can achieve with the drivers we have and, if necessary, make changes. We’ll evaluate the opportunities. It’s a market reality that applies to the entire company.”
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READ MORE: Flavio Briatore reveals why there is ‘no point’ in Alpine signing a ‘top driver’ for 2027
After seven races in 2026, Alpine have produced a series of impressive performances, largely helped by the transition to Mercedes power units.
French driver Pierre Gasly had his Monaco podium reinstated and has scored points in every race he has finished this season.
As things stand, Gasly sits eighth in the world championship standings with 41 points, 11 behind Red Bull’s Verstappen.
Speaking about Gasly, Briatore admitted that he was surprised by the 30-year-old.
He said: “Pierre is another surprise. Getting to know him, I’ve come to appreciate him greatly. He’s a guy who shows extraordinary commitment.”
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