Franco Colapinto revealed how Flavio Briatore keeps Alpine under pressure, even when the results are positive. For the Argentine, the demanding stance of the executive consultant is exactly what the team needs to get closer to the main forces in Formula 1.
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The best demonstration, according to Colapinto, happened after the Canadian GP. Alpine finished with Pierre Gasly and Colapinto in positions that represented a double points result, but Briatore did not celebrate the performance and started demanding explanations about the gap to Ferrari and the approach of Racing Bulls.
“We finished P6 and P8 in Canada, those were incredible points for the team, but after the race Flavio was not happy and kept pressuring the team. He was almost the unhappiest person in the whole team,” said Colapinto. According to the Argentine driver, Briatore wanted to understand why the gap to Ferrari had increased compared to Miami and why Racing Bulls was closer.
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The pressure may seem harsh, but Colapinto considers this behavior necessary for a team that intends to leave the midfield pack: “To put this pressure on the team, even when things go right, this is his way of leading, and in my personal view, it is a way to succeed in F1 and reach the top teams. Flavio is a competitive animal. He only returned to Formula 1 to win and I really appreciate that because I am the same,” he added.
Even with the progress after a very difficult 2025 season, Colapinto acknowledges that Alpine has not yet reached the desired level. The arrival of Gucci as the main sponsor in 2027 is also seen by the Argentine as a sign of confidence in the project and an opportunity to advance: “Many good things are happening right now, new partnerships and many things around us. The deal with Gucci is one of them and important. So, yes, I think it shows that the direction we are taking now is the right one,” he concluded.
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