Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore has revealed that the door will remain open to Carlos Sainz despite him turning down a move to the Formula 1 team for 2025.
Briatore’s return to F1 with the Renault-owned squad back in June prompted Alpine to enter the race to obtain Sainz’s coveted services as he prepares to leave Ferrari.
But the Spaniard, who will vacate his current seat to Lewis Hamilton, penned a multi-term deal with Williams over a switch to either Alpine or the Sauber/Audi venture.
The Enstone-based squad has since promoted reserve driver Jack Doohan to a permanent drive to partner Pierre Gasly, who extended his contract earlier this season.
Expanding upon the rationale behind the decision to go with a rookie, Briatore repeated that Alpine’s driver line-up isn’t integral with the team as uncompetitive as it is.
Alpine has endured a dramatic decline across the current ground effect regulation era and languishes in ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship with 13 points.
“There is no disappointment,” Briatore told Motorsport Magazin. “Carlos was an opportunity, but it was a bit too soon.
“Before we talk about drivers, we first have to talk about a competitive car, because if the car doesn’t perform, it doesn’t matter which driver you put behind the wheel.
“First of all, we have to clean house with Oliver [Oakes, Team Principal] and motivate everyone at Alpine again.”
Alpine would entertain Sainz arrival
Briatore has pointed out how Red Bull’s regression has prompted Max Verstappen to go on an eight-race winless run to enhance his point about a driver’s importance.
However, the Italian has expressed that the Anglo-French marque would be prepared to enter the mix again in the circumstance where Sainz chose to depart Williams.
“A year ago, Max Verstappen was winning every race and now that the other cars are more competitive, other drivers are winning the races,” he added.
“I don’t want to spend X million on a driver because it doesn’t make a difference.
“We are happy with Gasly and we have a young driver now, but if Carlos wants to come in 2026, we will be here.”
Sainz’s choice to decline Alpine’s advances came despite Briatore attempting to entice him with the proposition that the team is set to run Mercedes engines in 2026.
READ MORE: Carlos Sainz not expecting hard adaption to drop down F1 order at Williams
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