Ted Kravitz says ‘pretty big questions’ now exist over £1.2bn-valued F1 team’s future after key staff member quits

The Canadian Grand Prix created plenty of talking points on the track.

Lando Norris lost out after colliding with Oscar Piastri, allowing his McLaren teammate to extend his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship.

George Russell recorded his first win of the season, holding off Red Bull star Max Verstappen and Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the process.

Lewis Hamilton suffered a brake issue and hit a groundhog as he fell behind Charles Leclerc on Sunday, with the pair finishing P5 and P6.

However, it was also an important race for those teams trying to be the best of the rest in the constructors’ championship.

Aston Martin star Fernando Alonso was the best of the rest coming home ahead of Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg with both drivers recording back-to-back points finishes.

Esteban Ocon scored two points for Haas at their 200th F1 race, while Carlos Sainz put a frustrating qualifying session behind him to finish 10th.

It means after 10 race weekends, Alpine currently sit bottom of the standings after a tough weekend for Pierre Gasly and a more positive outing for Franco Colapinto.

Ted Kravitz has now delivered some news about the team that could leave their long-term F1 future up for debate.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Ted Kravitz shares update on Alpine after Luca de Meo quits as Renault CEO

Kravitz was speaking on Ted’s Notebook after the Canadian Grand Prix about the £1.2bn-valued French team and explained: “When you’re Flavio Briatore and your title is executive advisor to Luca de Meo, the chief of Renault and then Luca de Meo, the chief of Renault decides that now is the time for him to not be the chief of Renault anymore and leave the company, then where does that leave Flavio Briatore?

“[He’s] executive advisor to no one at the moment. Team principal, would he like to appoint himself [as the] proper team principal? I don’t know, maybe.

“Who will the new CEO of the Renault group be, again, we don’t know, they will figure that out within the top of the French company.

“And then will that new CEO, Luca de Meo’s successor, A) want to continue with Formula 1, which is not a given, the new CEO can decide that they might not want to continue with Formula 1 completely.

“B) if they do, do they want to sell the team, I don’t know. Otmar Szafnauer is looking for a team to buy.

“C) does the new CEO want to keep Flavio Briatore on as an executive advisor? So, you can see some pretty big questions down here at the Alpine Formula 1 team at the moment.

“Does the new CEO whoever they are want it to carry on being called Alpine? They might want it to go back to Renault.”

READ MORE: Who is Alpine’s F1 executive adviser Flavio Briatore? Everything to know

Alpine chief Flavio Briatore responds to Luca de Meo exit

As Kravitz has explained, Flavio Briatore’s ever-changing role at Alpine looks set to take yet another turn after Luca de Meo’s resignation.

After Oliver Oakes left Alpine in his role as team principal, Briatore took over some of his responsibilities although it’s yet to be seen whether Renault want him to step up in any capacity.

Alpine have insisted that they’re not for sale for some time, but De Meo’s exit could shift their feelings towards having a long-term future in F1.

Speaking at the race in Canada, via Formula Passion, about what might change going forward, Briatore insisted: “What will change? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Nothing has changed for me.

“Not for me, not for the team. And congratulations to Luca for his new job”.