What Flavio Briatore has told Alpine staff about their F1 future at the factory after CEO Luca de Meo’s exit

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Alpine are in turmoil on and off the track, with several key figures leaving the team throughout 2025.

The Enstone outfit were looking to improve after a dismal 2024 campaign. Alpine spent much of last season struggling to score points consistently, with a double podium at Sao Paulo elevating them to sixth in the standings.

But 2025 has been a miserable season for the team as they sit bottom of the constructors’ championship with 11 points after 10 races, all of which were scored by Pierre Gasly. Teammate Jack Doohan was dropped after failing to score points and suffering heavy crashes in the opening six events.

Franco Colapinto replaced Doohan after Flavio Briatore pushed for the Argentine to get his seat. The switch came after team principal Oliver Oakes resigned from his post, although the two departures are unrelated.

Nevertheless, it was evident that Alpine were a mess behind the scenes, as Briatore has now become the team’s fourth team principal in five years, with Oakes lasting just 10 months. The Canadian Grand Prix saw the biggest departure yet, as CEO Luca de Meo announced his resignation on race day.

Flavio Briatore has told Alpine staff at the factory that he has reassurances from Renault about their F1 future

De Meo was a key figure behind Renault’s switch to the Alpine brand in 2021, who have gone on to win one Grand Prix with Esteban Ocon in Hungary that same year.

De Meo secured Alpine a deal with Mercedes for 2026 to become their customer team under the new regulations. But his resignation as Renault CEO has placed the Enstone team in serious doubt in F1.

There is concern that the next CEO may not want to keep Alpine in F1, with rumours of a potential sale swirling around the paddock. Former Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul could look to bring Hyundai to F1 and buy Alpine.

In a report from The Race, Briatore ‘immediately’ travelled back to the Enstone factory after the Canadian GP. The Italian reassured his staff that ‘de Meo’s exit would not change Renault’s support’.

It is understood that ‘the Renault Group has reiterated its commitment to F1’ despite de Meo’s exit. Renault have personally reaffirmed that to Briatore, who has also been to Paris to discuss the issue with board members.

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

Alpine are a mess on the track as Franco Colapinto decision nears

Briatore’s own future is in doubt at Alpine, given it was de Meo who brought him back to F1 as the team’s advisor last year. But for now, it seems he has Renault’s full commitment.

This issue will certainly not help Gasly and Colapinto on the track as they look to improve and score more points in 2025. The latter will be desperate to find performance as he enters the final race of his alleged five-race deal after replacing Doohan.

Colapinto’s future is ‘far from secure’, having struggled to find the right balance in the A525. The Argentine has failed to score points thus far this season, with performance in qualifying being a major issue.

Briatore has rubbished rumours that Colapinto will be replaced, with the likes of Doohan and Sergio Perez being linked with taking his seat. The 21-year-old cannot afford to slip up anymore as Alpine are in chaos.