Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore explained that the recent rise of rookies in Formula 1 led to its top teams overlooking Carlos Sainz.
Sainz found himself on the F1 driver market before a wheel was turned in 2024 when Ferrari announced it had snapped up seven-time title-winner Lewis Hamilton to replace him in 2025.
The Spaniard then set about deciding his future, but it quickly became apparent that a drive at another top team such as Red Bull or Mercedes wouldn’t come to pass.
Sainz would have to settle for a project and that he did when he eventually penned a multi-year deal with Williams.
In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Briatore was asked if the rampant rise of F1 rookies (five in 2025) hampered Sainz’s chances of landing another top drive.
“It is now time for a generation change,” Briatore replied.
“Sainz is a very good driver. But when he was on the market, none of the top teams took him on.
“They prefer to focus on young drivers. Toto Wolff on [Andrea Kimi] Antonelli, Christian Horner on [Liam] Lawson.
“Young drivers are hungrier than someone who has a wife and two children and 30 or 40 million in the bank.
“Even Enzo Ferrari said that drivers slow down when they have children.”
F1 rookies are better prepared in the modern age according to Briatore
Briatore goes on to cite the accomplished debuts of the likes of Oscar Piastri with McLaren and Oliver Bearman with Ferrari and Haas has led teams to keep focussing on younger talent.
“I think the rise of Piastri has made people think,” he said.
“Bearman jumps into a Ferrari overnight and drives a great race.
“The young drivers are much better trained. And the competitive pressure is higher. In Formula 2, you’re in first place today and 14th tomorrow. Hamilton or [Nico] Rosberg used to win 70 per cent of all races.
“When [Michael] Schumacher came to us [at Benetton], he still lacked experience. We first sent Fernando [Alonso] to Minardi. [Max] Verstappen didn’t even have a driving licence when he started at Toro Rosso.”
Why Sainz to Alpine failed to materialise
Sainz’s move to Williams looked to come about during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend in June, but the return of Briatore to Team Enstone [Alpine] changed things.
At the eleventh hour, Alpine looked to scupper Williams’ plans and lure him to the outfit he watched hero Alonso race for growing up.
That left Sainz to deliberate between Williams, Alpine and even Sauber through the summer months, before coming to decision after the Belgian GP at the end of July.
Asked how Alpine lost out in the Sainz bidding war, Briatore said: “I spoke to Sainz. He was interesting for us, but only for four years.
“It makes no sense to take a driver like Carlos for one or two years.
“Either he believes in our programme or he doesn’t.
“I don’t need a driver who costs me a lot of money and is looking to go to another team when the opportunity arises.”
Williams has been able to lock Sainz down to a multi-year contract with Alpine dipping into its Academy lineup and signing Jack Doohan to partner Pierre Gasly in 2025.
Doohan however, made his debut one round early as F1 brought the curtain down on 2024 at the Abu Dhabi GP.
READ MORE – Alpine leaves door open to Carlos Sainz despite failed F1 move
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