Alpine F1: Julian Rouse, the last man standing?
Flavio Briatore is struggling to find a replacement to head Alpine F1. Following the rejections of Christian Horner and Steve Nielsen, the solution could come from within. Julian Rouse, current Sporting Director, could take over until the end of the season.
A vacant position, two significant refusals. The position of team principal at Alpine F1 has been officially open since the sudden departure of Oliver Oakes. A strategic vacancy, as the Enstone team struggles to emerge from a sporting and managerial crisis. For several weeks, Flavio Briatore, recently appointed executive advisor, has been directly overseeing the team's operations, assisted by Dave Greenwood on the operational side.
But despite the urgency of the situation, the candidates are not rushing. Two important names have declined the proposal. First, Christian Horner, the historic head of Red Bull Racing, whose proximity with Briatore in the paddocks at Monaco and Barcelona had fueled rumors. He quickly shut the door:
« It's always flattering to be associated with other teams, but I am fully committed to Red Bull. This has always been the case and it certainly will be in the long term. »
Another abandoned option: Steve Nielsen. Former sporting director of the FIA and ex-collaborator of Briatore at Renault, he seemed to be a logical choice, experienced and familiar with the Enstone system. But he declined the offer, even a reduced one, which offered him a partially remote role.
« It's always nice to be sought after, but it's a job that requires total immersion and I am very happy with my current consulting activities. »
Julian Rouse, the card of continuity?
Faced with this double refusal, Alpine might opt for an internal promotion by entrusting the team's reins to Julian Rouse. At 43, the Briton knows the house well: former team manager at Arden in GP3, then in GT with R Motorsport, he joined Alpine in 2022 to lead the Alpine Academy, before succeeding Alan Permane as sporting director last year.
Son of the British driver and engineer Andy Rouse, Julian grew up in the paddock and displays a solid racing culture. He doesn't have the aura of a Horner or the network of a Nielsen, but he knows the inner workings of Alpine and could embody a form of stability in the current storm.
According to several sources close to the team, Flavio Briatore is considering giving him free rein until the end of the season, while assessing his ability to turn the situation around. A transitional solution, but not ruled out as definitive if the results follow.
An uncertain direction, maximum pressure
Facing persistent technical difficulties and a gloomy position in the championship standings, Alpine must also contend with a destabilized sports management. Over the past two years, the team has seen Laurent Rossi, Otmar Szafnauer, Alan Permane, Bruno Famin, and Oliver Oakes come and go, without finding a clear direction.
The appointment of Briatore aims to bring more firmness to management, but the Italian currently seems more comfortable in the role of a supervisor than a builder. The decision to trust Rouse is therefore as much a choice by default as it is a full-scale test. Renault, the owner of the team, expects concrete results in the short term.
If Rouse's interim role works, he could become the figure of the post-crisis. Otherwise, Alpine will have to go in search of a new team leader, but with its attractiveness still in question. Because in the paddock, caution remains paramount: the position is high-profile, the environment unstable... and prestigious names often prefer to sit this one out.
Read also: Flavio Briatore sets a clear goal for Alpine in 2026
