The team director clarified the internal roles of the French team, spoke about the current sporting situation, and the points that need to be corrected ahead of next season
On the sporting side, Alpine closed a very complicated 2025 season. The car showed pronounced instability and was quickly exposed due to the lack of development, a consequence of the strategic decision to focus efforts on the development of the 2026 car. That bet left Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly fighting at the back of the grid, especially in the final stretch of the championship.
The reconstruction process of Alpine in Formula 1 for 2026 is adding key definitions in the middle of an irregular season marked by changes in leadership. Steve Nielsen, the current team principal, stepped in to bring clarity regarding the French outfit's internal structure, Flavio Briatore's role, and the aspects that must be corrected in order to regain competitiveness.
In a conversation with the international press, the British executive was blunt when he explained how responsibilities are divided within the team. ""Flavio and I have known each other for many years, it's quite clear what each of us does. He is in charge of the commercial side of the business and I take care of the rest"", he stated.
He also emphasized the constant communication between the two of them within the team's structure: ""We speak regularly, daily even, although he isn't in Enstone every day, although in reality he actually is there often. So that is very clear between us and also very clear to everyone within the organization".
Despite that adverse scenario, Nielsen explained that the internal analysis goes beyond the results on track and pointed to other performance indicators: ""There are some things that can be measured, for example our performance in pit stops, and it hasn't been good. We have areas in which we must work and we are doing so".
The executive also stressed that there are multiple variables to assess the team's growth, even without fighting for victories: ""There are many other areas in which progress can be measured and that aren't necessarily tied to finishing first in a race. Efficiency in production, the speed with which we take ideas from the wind tunnel to reality… we have a lot of work ahead of us. That work is already underway and, hopefully, we will improve in all those areas and we will bring something much better to the circuit".
With new leadership in place and eyes set on 2026, Alpine is seeking to leave behind years of institutional turbulence and lay the foundations for a more solid project within Formula 1.
