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Flavio Briatore Keeps Carlos Sainz’s Future Open at Alpine
Flavio Briatore, the Alpine advisor, has left the door ajar for Carlos Sainz’s potential move to Alpine in the future. The Spanish driver is set to leave Ferrari for Williams in 2025, and Briatore understands why Sainz may hesitate to join the current Alpine lineup. Nevertheless, he is welcome to join the French team in 2026.
Sainz’s Transition and Future Prospects
As the season wraps up, Carlos Sainz will exit Ferrari to make way for the legendary Lewis Hamilton. This decision was made public early in the season, leading to intense speculation regarding Sainz’s next steps. Ultimately, the driver decided to sign with Williams, skipping over options like Alpine in the process.
Alpine’s Perspective on Driver Decisions
“No disappointment at all. Carlos was an opportunity, but it was premature,” Briatore remarked in an interview with Motorsport-Magazin. He acknowledges that Sainz’s decision to join a more competitive team is entirely justifiable. “Before we delve into discussions about drivers, we first need to focus on the importance of a competitive car.” As it stands, Williams currently sits one position higher than Alpine in the constructors’ championship.
Briatore continued, “If the car isn’t performing well, it doesn’t matter which driver you have behind the wheel.” He referenced Red Bull’s recent performance changes as a prime example. “A year ago, Max Verstappen was winning every race, and now that other teams have developed more competitive cars, we see a different young driver taking the podium.”
The Future of Sainz at Alpine
Given their current situation, Alpine is prioritizing ongoing car development over roster changes. However, Briatore has not ruled out pursuing Sainz down the line. “We are pleased with Gasly’s contributions, and we also have a promising young driver in Jack Doohan, but if Carlos wishes to consider joining us in 2026, we will be ready for that conversation,” Briatore stated.
Challenges Ahead for Williams
Whether Williams will allow Sainz to leave in two years remains uncertain. Team principal James Vowles shared his aspirations on the Beyond the Grid podcast, expressing hope that Sainz will push Alexander Albon as a teammate. “You will see Alex take a step forward,” Vowles commented. “When you have a teammate who can find even a fraction of a second, it motivates you to elevate your performance in ways you may not have experienced before.”
With such factors at play, the dynamics of Team Williams, Carlos Sainz, and Alpine could shape an intriguing narrative in the coming seasons. As each team focuses on optimizing their performance and driver rosters, the motorsport landscape continues to evolve.
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