What’s happening at Alpine?
The Colapinto threat for Jack Doohan. An eventful start for Esteban Ocon. Ryo Hirakawa off to Haas. In the space of just a few months, Alpine has undergone a series of major changes that have many paddock observers wondering why.
Is it a crisis? Potentially. Since last summer, Alpine has been the subject of much discussion. The French team with increasingly pronounced British connections has been at the center of numerous press articles. And not necessarily in a good way.
First, there was the engine crisis with the announcement of abandoning the 2026 engine even though it was at a very advanced stage. Along with this came uncertainty for many employees at the Viry-Châtillon site. Strikes, protests in Monza, and speeches by deputies, this issue had generated a lot of attention.
The sidelining of Bruno Famin, who is known for ensuring everything runs smoothly in a relaxed atmosphere, also raised questions. Just like the dismissal of Otmar Szafnauer a little earlier. The arrival of Oliver Oakes as team principal worried more than a few.
In the meantime, the on-track performances were far from those announced by the brand. As a reminder, Alpine wanted to be at the front of the pack very quickly. But in the end, the team was fighting more to get into the points zone. The double podium in Brazil helped calm the internal fire a bit, allowing them to earn several million thanks to the constructors’ standings at the end of the season.
The end of the season, let’s talk about it. In Qatar, many rumors suggested that Esteban Ocon would not finish the season. A surprising piece of information since there was only one race left in the calendar. The disguised farewell on Canal +’s microphone reinforced this theory despite Oliver Oakes’ naive statement that he was unaware of anything. Ultimately, the rumors were well-founded as the Frenchman was sidelined before the race in Yas Marina.
The postman Flavio Briatore
In his place, a confidence-lacking Jack Doohan was put in, who struggled to get up to speed. This season, it’s still the case, even though there’s some improvement in the lap times. However, the son of the MotoGP legend commits too many mistakes and has crashed his car into the wall twice. He is admittedly a rookie, but these are two very serious errors, notably in Japan.
More recently, the Ryo Hirakawa case raises questions. The Toyota endurance driver, who was at the wheel of the Alpine during the first free practice session in Suzuka, was announced as a reserve driver for Haas for the rest of 2025 just three days later. Completely released from the French team, the Japanese driver will be able to get into the American car starting with free practice in Bahrain. What is surprising is that he had joined Alpine’s driver roster at the end of last season. The Enstone structure has not commented on this action, but it raises a question. Did the ties between Toyota and Haas play a key role in this transfer? Probably.
The Rac(H)er program
For nearly a year now, particular activities have been taking place at Alpine. From the outside, it gives an impression of unease and a situation that is neither stable nor healthy. Without incriminating anyone, this coincides with an event: the return of Flavio Briatore. The Italian is known for his tough management style and a desire to win, no matter the means. Just look at his words to Jack Doohan in Drive to Survive when he has him sign his contract.
The former Benetton executive has clearly taken control of everything happening internally and is enforcing his rules. Esteban Ocon’s departure is certainly not insignificant. The Australian is under more than just pressure and is threatened by Franco Colapinto, who is ready to climb into the seat.
Founded in 2023 largely by the former HR Director of Alpine, Claire Mesnier, the Rac(H)er program aimed at including women in motorsport has taken a hit. According to our information, it was Flavio Briatore who ended Sophia Flörsch’s contract. Abbi Pulling, reigning champion of the F1 Academy, has taken off. The Frenchwoman Lisa Billard has joined the Iron Dames.
Despite all these elements, several people from Alpine assured us in the last third of the 2024 season that everything was going well, that the situation was not difficult to manage. But these statements raise questions. Is the team preparing a big move? It’s about time, because after a long period of drought, the arrowed A, given its resources and prestigious partnerships, must return to the top of F1. Especially after nearly ten years of promises.
