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Alpine has made a late bid to try to secure Carlos Sainz’s services for next year as it pushes to move up the Formula 1 grid, Motorsport.com can reveal. Just as it appeared that Sainz had been left with a straight choice between Williams and Sauber/Audi in terms of securing a seat for next year, sources have revealed that serious talks have now ramped up with Alpine. It has even been suggested that an attractive contract offer has been made for Sainz to commit his future to the squad. Whereas just a few months ago the Alpine option may have had little going for it, with a difficult start to the campaign leaving its A524 at the back of the grid, things are different now.
At last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, both of its drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon got through to Q3 and they finished ninth and 10th respectively to secure a double points finish. It is the second consecutive time that Alpine has brought both drivers home in the points, with it also happening in Canada, while it is now the third straight race that it has finished in the top ten. This form is in contrast to what Sainz’s other options have endured in recent races. Sauber, which becomes the Audi team in 2026, has yet to score a point this season with the team’s best result being 11th from the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. And while Williams has two points to its name, thanks to Alex Albon’s ninth place at the Monaco Grand Prix, the team endured a double retirement in Canada and had a lacklustre showing in Spain as it came home in 18th and 20th.
...
Sainz:
"Do I want to go to a team that may not have an engine next year?" Alpine.
"Do I want to join a team that doesn't exist?" Audi
"Do I want to join a team that sucks?" Williams
"Do I wait and hope RBR cans Checo and I take his seat?"
He's really stuck in a tough spot, solid driver with no solid options.
Give those, I'd think either Sauber or Williams, then Haas, then maybe a year sabbatical, then Alpine
If Alpine can ditch Renault for a more powerful engine, I think they're the better option for him. But I'd absolutely go for a short term deal in case a better seat becomes available.
Sainz:
"Do I want to go to a team that may not have an engine next year?" Alpine.
"Do I want to join a team that doesn't exist?" Audi
"Do I want to join a team that sucks?" Williams
"Do I wait and hope RBR cans Checo and I take his seat?"
That's a good summary, except for compensation. Apparently, Audi is offering mega bucks.
Pro/Con:
Alpine: Might get Honda engines/Flavio Briatore
Audi: $$$$$/Horrible performance right now and unproven engine
Williams: /Poor
Red Bull: Race winning car/they're just not into you
74-year-old Briatore's return to the Enstone based team and F1 has been controversial, given the flamboyant Italian's central role in the 'crashgate' scandal that initially resulted in a lifetime ban.
I spoke to (Renault CEO) Luca de Meo on the phone for a long time, Ecclestone, no longer officially involved in the sport, told Blick newspaper.
He was desperate, said the 93-year-old. "Then the word Briatore came up.
We quickly agreed that in such a confusing situation only a doer - a bandit among angels - could help, Ecclestone, a well known friend and long-time business partner of Briatore's, added. "There are enough saints in there already.
Flavio's great strength has always been 'Keep the discussions short, do and think big. You don't need friends in Formula 1, you just need success', he said.
Briatore is already predicting a swift return to competitiveness for the crisis-struck team.
In 2026, I will win races, Briatore told Italian radio Rai this week. "Alpine will be on the podium. This year, there are too many handicaps, but we are reshaping the whole team now.
I have received full powers from Luca deo Meo and that's what I'm used to. I guarantee it - in two seasons we will be talking about podiums, he insisted.
Briatore also told Bild newspaper: "I'm here because I want to be. I'm not doing this for money - I wanted to get back into Formula 1 to help this team.
I decided that I'll return to Enstone for the third time, but only to win.I refused many offers to return to F1, but I said yes to this one because it's sexy and because I'm sentimental."
He also revealed to La Repubblica newspaper that he recently underwent successful heart surgery to remove an ulcer. The heart works, he smiled.
You won't believe it, but I have feelings now, Briatore joked.
Reading between the lines, it sounds like they will dump their own engines.
Unless something shocking happens (Verstappen leaving RBR), it seems like Sainz will replace Ocon at Alpine and Lawson will replace Ricciardo at Racing Bulls.
Read something similar as well. Leading rumor I was was them [Alpine] becoming an engine customer of RBPT.
Throws some question at the Andretti deal, since they had planned on being a Renault customer for the first year or two before switching to Cadillac.
Unless something shocking happens (Verstappen leaving RBR), it seems like Sainz will replace Ocon at Alpine and Lawson will replace Ricciardo at Racing Bulls.
Bit of a bummer for Sainz, almost a D Hill drop [going from Williams to Arrows] in having a competitive car.
Will be a bummer to see DR3 go, but the on-track performance hasn't really been there. Whether that's him or the car but Yuki has been doing quite well against him. DR in the points twice this season so far, Yuki with 5 points finishes. 11 v 19 points.
Ocon's and Alain Prost's upbringings and start into racing are similar. Both of their parent's were middle class and sold alot of their possessions to fund their son's racing career. When Prost was at Renault/Alpine, one of his roles was to work on race strategy with Ocon. For whatever reason it hasn't help transform him into a more "thinking" driver as the team principals were hoping for.
Doing some unrelated reading the other day, saw that Haas is using the 2023 Ferrari PU [or was at the start of the season]. And they're outperforming Sauber, which has the same PU as the works team
Sadly, true.
Small flashes of just maybe breaking into the points, but probably the worst car on the grid currently, or at least the slowest.
To be the only team with no points, not a good look for being this far into the season. Reminiscent of Williams a couple years ago. Guessing it's a lot of aero disadvantage, if they're on power parity with works Ferrari.
I read that isn't a done deal and that Vasseur is demanding Haas hire an experienced driver to show Ollie the ropes for when he moves over to Ferrari later on. Ocon isn't going to teach Bearman anything except how to wipe out your team mate (or the race leader: Max/Brazil) and collect penalties. That's the only thing he's consistently done since he started in F1.
Formula 1 and the FIA have today announced the venues that will host F1 Sprint events during the 2025 season, with six circuits set to play host to the 100km dash next season.
In 2025 – a year that will mark the 75th anniversary of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and the fifth season of the Sprint – Sao Paulo will keep up its run of hosting the Sprint every year since 2021, while Belgium returns for the first time since 2023.
Shanghai and Miami are set to host the Sprint for the second consecutive year, and Austin and Qatar return to the calendar for a third time.
The format has delivered some excellent racing in the past four seasons and multiple winners from across the grid, including Max Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas, George Russell, Sergio Perez and Oscar Piastri.
Since making this change, Mercedes has won all the races: what is it?
About a year ago when Allison returned as MB Technical Director he told Wolff he'd need about a year to understand their chassis problems and produce solutions, he semi-jokily added if he couldn't Wolff could fire him.
/Poor
but Yuki has been doing quite well against him. DR in the points twice this season so far, Yuki with 5 points finishes. 11 v 19 points.
that's awesome! Happy birthday!
