Flavio Briatore sets out clear Alpine target for 2026 as he shares update on search for new team boss

“We’re looking for next year as well – for the new engine and the new gearbox from Mercedes-Benz. So, this is our goal for next year. In the meantime, we need to be more competitive. We are not competitive for the moment, like I want, but [it] takes time.”

Seated alongside Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner in the press conference, Briatore continued: “You see this maestro next to me, it takes a lot of time to build a winning car, a winning race, a winning team. I know I’ve done it before. I hope I’ll do it again.”

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Having recently suggested that he wanted the team to be challenging for victories and titles in 2027, Briatore was pushed on whether Alpine have everything they need in order to do that.

“You need a dream as well, you know,” he responded. “When you are in Formula 1, you’re dreaming as well to do the job. You hope. And in this moment, the team is quite new. The team is not performing like I wanted because we still have… a lot of the situation in the team is not clear.

“But we need to clear up everything. Before we start performing like I want, I believe we need all of 2025 now, and we need 2026 to be competitive, to at least sometimes see the podium very close. These are what we’re looking for.