Alpine's director set high goals for the future and supported the Argentine, whom he considers a key figure in the project for the new era of the competition
"The easiest way to win is to sign Max Verstappen, but we can't. So we have to work with what we've got," he concluded.
At another point in the interview, the Italian spoke about Franco Colapinto and his adaptation process to his new environment. "We put him in the car. He also has speed. His first race was difficult. He still lacks the ability to handle pressure. If you have speed and crash into the wall, it's useless," he stated.
Flavio Briatore has high expectations for Franco Colapinto within Alpine. The Italian, current advisor and team principal, was the one who placed his bet on the Argentine driver and aims to develop him with the immediate future in mind, although his goals are ambitious, especially looking ahead to next season.
"In 2026, there won't be any excuses: we must be competitive. We owe it to Renault, to Alpine... We're in this sport to win, and with the new regulations coming into effect in 2026, the teams that interpret them best will have the advantage," he stated in an interview with Le Monde.
Later on, he revealed when his team and drivers will be ready to fight for the top in Formula 1: "In 2026 we can win races, I guarantee it. In 2027 we want to be title contenders".
He also referred to a key change for the future: the decision to leave Renault engines starting next year. "Switching to Mercedes engines was a very difficult decision, but in this sport, to win, you need to have the same tools as everyone else. For a million reasons rooted in the past, we were at a disadvantage in that regard".
When asked about his role after Oliver Oakes's departure, Briatore was direct: "He was in charge of all operational matters, but he's no longer with us. Now I'm fully committed and surrounded by a very strong team in every department. It's more work, but it's not a problem. I have plenty of time".
He added: "Everyone thought there was a disagreement between Oli and me. But when I have a problem with someone, everyone knows it. I speak and act immediately. If I say there's no problem, it's because there isn't one," he said.
