Formula 1: Briatore spoke about Franco Colapinto's future and criticized Doohan

In a recent interview with the Italian newspaperLa Stampa, Flavio Briatore, current executive advisor of Alpine, spoke about the team's present, the future of Argentine Franco Colapinto, and also shared his views on drivers who reach Formula 1 thanks to their family connections.

When asked about the possible debut of Colapinto in Formula 1, the executive was cautious and emphasized that "now the priority is to have a top-level car, to be on par with the four giants McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari". Although the Argentine driver is mentioned as an alternative to replace Jack Doohan, who started the season with ups and downs, Briatore made it clear that the team is facing other urgencies and that, for now, the focus is on improving the car's performance.

In that sense, he had already pointed out that it's not enough to place a young talent in an F1 seat: "It's not just putting a kid in a car: then you have to deal with everything else, the pressure, the interviews, the criticism, 100,000 spectators in the stands". To illustrate the complexity of the environment, he mentioned the case of Liam Lawson, who failed to establish himself at Red Bull and was relegated to a smaller team after a difficult start.

The interview also addressed the phenomenon of the so-called "daddy's boys", a term used by journalist Jacopo D’Orsi when referring to drivers like Lance Stroll, son of the owner of Aston Martin, and Jack Doohan, son of multiple motorcycle champion Mick Doohan. Briatore replied emphatically: "Stroll has his own team and is a separate case. As for Jack, you can be Mick's son but if you're not competitive you're going nowhere, everyone is fast. Although, of course, it's not easy".

Regarding Alpine's current situation, Briatore admitted that the team's situation is delicate and that the path to recovery is just beginning: "We are at the starting point". Although he celebrated certain results obtained in 2024, he anticipated that the real transformation will come only in 2026, when Alpine will have a complete technical package from Mercedes: "We started from far behind, only in 2026 will we have the complete Mercedes package, engine and gearbox". He added: "In 2026 we must be competitive. The real goal is 2027".

Speaking about the new generation of drivers, Briatore celebrated their connection with the present: "It's fantastic. Many don't even use personal cars, they prefer Uber, sharing. The world has changed and they attract their peers", he said, valuing their ability to reach new audiences.

Finally, the veteran executive identified Max Verstappen as the current talent that most reminds him of Schumacher: "He does extraordinary things". He also highlighted Lewis Hamilton, whom he considers a figure "comparable with Ayrton Senna". When talking about charismatic leaders in the category, he chose Toto Wolff and Christian Horner: "Toto and I have a great relationship. And Horner has also done a good job".