Few Formula 1 fans would have expected Alpine to be going into the winter break with spirits high within the camp considering how they started the 2024 season.
Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon were at the back of the grid for the season opener in Bahrain.
Contrast that with the team’s performance at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix where both Frenchmen were on the podium and Alpine deserve a huge amount of credit for the steps made during the season.
It wouldn’t be a typical season for Alpine if there wasn’t plenty of turbulence off the track, with a new team principal brought in midway through the season and the re-signing of Flavio Briatore as an advisor.
Oliver Oakes has done a fine job since being brought in from Alpine and will have a new driver pairing to work with in 2025.
Jack Doohan made his debut in Abu Dhabi alongside Gasly and will take part in his second Grand Prix at his home race in Australia in March.
Alpine have been linked with Franco Colapinto recently, but it’s another more established driver who was initially on their radar.
Flavio Briatore explains why Alpine didn’t want to sign Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz was the most exciting driver who was set to become a free agent in 2025 after losing his Ferrari seat to Lewis Hamilton.
Sainz was an option for Alpine earlier in the year before eventually deciding to join Williams.
Briatore was asked in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport what went wrong with Alpine’s bid to sign the Spaniard.
READ MORE: Williams driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
He said: “I spoke to Sainz. He was interesting for us, but only for four years.
“It makes no sense to take a driver like Carlos for one or two years.
“Either he believes in our program or he doesn’t.
“I don’t need a driver who costs me a lot of money and is looking forward to going to another team if the opportunity arises.”
Alpine making sweeping changes to return to the top of Formula 1
It’s been a tough season for Alpine, but they’re moving in the right direction even if they’ve had to make some sacrifices along the way.
Oakes should provide stability at the top of the racing team, and has a proven track record with Hitech.
However, Oakes’ answer when asked about Ocon’s future in Qatar suggests that he’s not the final decision-maker within the team.
The ultimately falls to Briatore and Luca de Meo and their driver line-up going forward might not be as set in stone as anticipated.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Doohan may only have a contract for five races, which immediately puts pressure on the young Australian.
They won’t be able to sign Sainz easily once he starts racing for Williams, but Colapinto will remain available as the team’s reserve driver.
It’s understandable why Sainz didn’t want to commit to a four-year deal with Alpine, although alongside Gasly they would have had the strongest driver line-up in the midfield.
The team will also be looking forward to using Mercedes power units and gearboxes from 2026 when they could be a real force to be reckoned with.
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