Eddie Jordan strongly believes in the work Flavio Briatore is doing with Alpine. Currently second to last in the constructors’ standings with 13 points, the French team is going through a rather troubled period.
Just days ago, Alpine severed ties with Renault, which will no longer be a Formula 1 engine supplier starting in 2026. The incessant protests from the employees at the Viry-Chatillon factory, who loudly demanded not to close the facility, were not enough.
After all, the fate of the Renault engine seemed already sealed. Flavio Briatore has a specific plan to bring Alpine back to the top, starting with the power unit.
Eddie Jordan believes the French team will be one to watch in the coming years. Speaking on the Formula for Success podcast, the Irish businessman said: “Flavio is like that. I could have a meeting with one of my main sponsors, and he would suddenly drop in. In my time in Formula 1, he was a truly special man.” – he pointed out.
“For some things, I hated him, and for others, I loved him. You always know what he will do, and he gave me his word: ‘I promise you, Eddie, by ’26 or ’27, Alpine will be on the podium.’ I won’t say I agree, because I feel that way. Flavio has a magic wand and can make things happen,” he stated.
Due to poor performance, mainly caused by engine unreliability, Alpine has abandoned its project for 2026, the year it is supposed to embrace Mercedes’ philosophy. Jordan stated that Flavio Briatore preferred to focus on the car’s performance rather than hiring a superstar driver. This is a very different approach from Ferrari.
“Flavio wants to build the best car possible, as we’ve said, and then the best driver will naturally be attracted to that car. That’s his way of doing things,” he added.
“Others do the opposite. They take the best driver and see how they can make things work. Like Ferrari taking Lewis Hamilton,” he concluded with a jab.
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