Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore is set to continue in his interim team principal role after the Italian’s top target to replace Oliver Oakes rejected an offer to take over.
The Enstone crew have been on the hunt for a new commander-in-chief since May, as Oakes resigned as Alpine’s team principal for personal reasons. Oakes also spent less than a year in the role, after the 37-year-old took over from Bruno Famin in charge of Alpine last August.
Briatore also returned to Enstone last June as the executive adviser for Groupe Renault CEO Luca de Meo. But the 75-year-old has also now taken up the duties of a team principal while Alpine search for a permanent replacement for Oakes, as Briatore cannot take over the role.
FIA rules require a team principal to hold an F1 licence, which Briatore does not have and he is also not a direct employee of the Alpine F1 team but rather Groupe Renault. A few names have appeared who could replace Oakes, including Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
Steve Nielsen rejects Flavio Briatore’s offer to become Alpine’s new F1 team principal
It recently emerged that Horner is now flirting with Briatore about taking over Alpine, as the Briton is facing question marks over his future at Red Bull. Yet Horner was not the first name that Briatore identified to now replace Oakes at Alpine as he favoured Steve Nielsen instead.
That is according to Auto Action, which reports that Briatore offered ex-Renault F1 sporting director Nielsen the team principal gig at Alpine in the wake of Oakes’ exit. Yet the 60-year-old turned Briatore down, as Nielsen prefers to continue his consultancy role for Formula 1.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine’s F1 executive adviser Flavio Briatore? Everything to know
Nielsen spent almost a decade in Enstone but has no desire to return anytime soon, as he is not looking to move back to England. The Bristol native is settled in the south of France with his young family, so Nielsen also rejected Alpine despite Briatore’s offer to work from home.
Briatore was prepared to let Nielsen carry out his responsibilities as a team principal without working from Alpine’s factory and to only join the team during the Grand Prix weekends. But Nielsen said no, as he knows the position requires a 24/7 presence at the factory and tracks.
Nielsen even ‘made it clear’ to Auto Action that he has zero plans to change jobs again soon after moving from F1 to the FIA and back to F1 over the last five years. So, Alpine are looking elsewhere and it is believed ‘internally’ in Enstone that Julian Rouse may now get promoted.
Briatore and De Meo overlooked Alpine’s sporting director Rouse for Oakes after they chose to replace Famin last summer. Yet Rouse now stands out as Briatore wants someone with F1 experience who can take the running of the day-to-day operations in Enstone off his hands.
Alpine could promote sporting director Julian Rouse instead of signing Red Bull boss Christian Horner
Given Briatore is on the hunt for a new team principal who can take over the day-to-day role in Enstone, the Italian might actually come to be at least somewhat glad that Nielsen turned down his offer to take charge of Alpine in favour of continuing his role as a consultant for F1.
It was a bizarre move in the first place for Briatore to offer Nielsen the Alpine team principal role without him actually having to work from Enstone. A team principal must oversee every key decision at an F1 team with a hands-on approach he would struggle to fulfil from home.
READ MORE: Know all about Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with net worth to wife
Nielsen seemingly recognised the challenge of taking charge as the ultimate leader of Alpine and carrying the overall responsibility for the team’s results by rejecting Briatore’s offer over the 24/7 nature of the role. Now, Rouse could earn the chance to be Alpine’s team principal.
Rouse is already second in command at Alpine as their sporting director and has been at the team since 2022, when he initially joined as the director of their driver academy. So, he also has experience working in many roles that may make him Alpine’s ideal next team principal.
What could harm Rouse’s chances and see him rejected for a second year running, however, is Horner’s interest in potentially taking over Alpine. The Red Bull boss is said to have set his sights on moving to Enstone if the Briton were to be relieved of his duties in Milton Keynes.
Leave feedback about this