In a move that got tongues wagging, Flavio Briatore, the flamboyant Italian, has returned to the Formula One paddock. His mission? To revive the struggling Alpine team by striking a groundbreaking deal for Mercedes power units, possibly as early as 2025.
This bold move is also part of Briatore’s strategy to lure Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver is yet to decide his future, with potential seats at Red Bull, Racing, or Mercedes on the horizon. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli’s star is rising. His recent performance in the F2 Sprint and his win in the feature race have put him in a strong position for the coveted Lewis Hamilton seat next year.
Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes, is keenly aware of the stakes. He’s still haunted by losing Max Verstappen to Red Bull before the Dutchman’s GP3 debut. The paddock buzz is that Antonelli will soon be announced by Mercedes, ensuring he doesn’t go elsewhere. With Mercedes seemingly out of the running for Sainz, the Spaniard might hold out until Red Bull reveals their 2025 plans. This uncertainty, especially with Sergio Perez’s shaky status, might see Daniel Ricciardo stepping up temporarily alongside Max Verstappen.
Briatore is banking on these uncertainties, hoping the Mercedes power unit deal for Alpine will pull Sainz in. Renault’s high-performance engine team, however, seems to be in the dark about these developments, and Joe Saward speculates that the resulting unrest might lead to a strike, leaving Alpine without engines at some races this year.
History shows this isn’t the first time a team faced engine supply woes. Red Bull once had a fallout with Renault over performance issues, only to be rescued by Honda at the last minute. Now, Red Bull has its powertrains, avoiding dependence on any manufacturer. Toto Wolff recently waxed lyrical about Mercedes’ engine department, possibly hinting at hopes of luring Verstappen to his team. Nevertheless, the reality is that Dr. Helmut Marko’s contract extension with Red Bull, which runs through 2026, likely means Verstappen will stay put.
Despite recent rumors and speculations, Max Verstappen’s current frustrations are more immediate. He’s not won since Barcelona, and McLaren appears faster than Red Bull. With an engine penalty looming due to excessive component changes, Verstappen heads to the Belgian Grand Prix under pressure.
Briatore’s return has certainly shaken things up in the F1 world. Whether his plans will bear fruit or lead to more chaos remains to be seen. What’s clear is that the drama and stakes in F1 are as high as ever.
