Flavio Briatore gives verdict on Alpine’s future targets and ambitions in Formula 1. Italian manager Flavio Briatore makes no secret of his Formula 1 ambitions.

Alpine Aiming for the Title in 2027
“We’ve gone back to being a racing team, not just a company.” Flavio Briatore celebrated Alpine’s double podium in Brazil with these words, a feat that radically changed the French team’s outlook in the Constructors’ standings at a time when they were heading toward a disastrous and humiliating ninth place. The brilliance of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly at Interlagos wasn’t a one-off. Gasly confirmed his form in subsequent races, securing a second-row start in qualifying at Las Vegas and delivering strong performances in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. These results locked in sixth place in the team standings. Flavio Briatore was brought in by Luca De Meo to revive the team’s fortunes, and the signs of a turnaround are already evident, with Mercedes power units set to be introduced starting in 2026.

Flavio Briatore hasn’t hidden his ambitions and has laid out a clear roadmap for Alpine to reclaim its place among the top teams in F1: “Next year, Alpine must consistently be among the top six, maybe with an occasional podium. We need to improve our car to achieve this goal. It should be possible; aerodynamically, we have much more room to maneuver compared to Ferrari or McLaren. In 2026, we want to finish on the podium in 50% of the races. At that point, we’ll automatically win one or two races. By 2027, we need to be ready to compete for the title,” Flavio Briatore told the German publication *Auto Motor und Sport*.

The lack of a top team’s budget doesn’t faze Flavio Briatore, who has faced similar challenges against powerhouse teams during his time at Benetton: “I think we have the formula to win with 30-40% less money than the others. At Benetton, it was 50% less. I know this team. That’s why I came back. I wouldn’t have done it for anyone else.”