Latest news with #Enstone
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Karun Chandhok weighs up ‘potential' next F1 team for Christian Horner
Karun Chandhok speculated that Christian Horner could join Alpine as team principal after his Red Bull exit. Horner was relieved of his duties as Red Bull F1 CEO last week in a surprise announcement, after 20 years and 14 world titles with the team. The 51-year-old has not missed a race since taking charge of Red Bull in 2005 but is set for some time away from the sport in light of his departure. However, Horner has been linked with Ferrari in recent months – and a potential link-up with Lewis Hamilton – but Sky Sports pundit Chandhok named another outfit who could target Horner. 'Could he go to Alpine and stay living in the UK?' Chandhok told Sky Sports News. 'Alpine are still based in that motorsport valley and are looking for a team principal. Christian's old friend Flavio Briatore is in charge. That could be a potential destination. 'Could he go to Ferrari? There were lots of rumours that they tried to hire him on various occasions. I don't think he'll go there.' Horner lives in rural Oxfordshire, close to Alpine's UK base in Enstone, and has a close relationship with Alpine adviser Briatore. Laurent Mekies, formerly team principal at sister team Racing Bulls, has taken over from Horner at Red Bull and will take charge from the next race, the Belgian Grand Prix (25-27 July). Red Bull are currently fourth in the constructors' championship while star driver Max Verstappen is 69 points behind leader Oscar Piastri in the drivers' standings at the halfway stage of the season.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nielsen to return to Alpine as managing director
Steve Nielsen has held a number of roles across F1 [Getty Images] Steve Nielsen is to return to the Renault-owned Alpine team as managing director. The 60-year-old Briton is one of the most experienced and respected sporting managers in Formula 1. Nielsen spent a decade at the team as sporting director through its various guises of Benetton, Renault and Lotus, and won two world title doubles with Fernando Alonso. Advertisement He has also been sporting director at the Caterham, Toro Rosso and Williams teams, as well as for governing body the FIA and for commercial rights holders F1. A statement from Alpine said Nielsen would "oversee the day-to-day running of the team at Enstone, starting from 1 September ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza". Alpine has been through a series of management changes in recent years as it struggles to return to competitiveness. Its latest team principal Oliver Oakes left the team after the Miami Grand Prix in May citing personal reasons. Nielsen is an appointment of Flavio Briatore, who was made executive adviser by Renault last summer with a remit to turn them around.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Nielsen to return to Alpine as managing director
Steve Nielsen is to return to the Renault-owned Alpine team as managing 60-year-old Briton is one of the most experienced and respected sporting managers in Formula spent a decade at the team as sporting director through its various guises of Benetton, Renault and Lotus, and won two world title doubles with Fernando has also been sporting director at the Caterham, Toro Rosso and Williams teams, as well as for governing body the FIA and for commercial rights holders F1.A statement from Alpine said Nielsen would "oversee the day-to-day running of the team at Enstone, starting from 1 September ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza". Alpine has been through a series of management changes in recent years as it struggles to return to latest team principal Oliver Oakes left the team after the Miami Grand Prix in May citing personal is an appointment of Flavio Briatore, who was made executive adviser by Renault last summer with a remit to turn them around.
Associated Press
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
F1 team Alpine appoints Steve Nielsen as managing director
ENSTONE, England (AP) — Formula 1 team Alpine has appointed Steve Nielsen as managing director to oversee its daily operations. The team said in a statement Friday that Nielsen will start in his role in September ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. He will be reporting to the team's executive advisor Flavio Briatore. The pair has been enjoying a strong relationship for years. Nielsen's appointment came in the wake of Oli Oakes' departure from the Team Principal role in May, a move that had left Briatore covering Oakes' duties. 'The appointment marks a return to the team for Nielsen, who is one of the most long-standing and well-respected figures in the sport and has previously spent multiple stints at Enstone for Benetton and Renault, most notably as Sporting Director during the 2005 and 2006 championship winning years,' Alpine said. Nielsen has also worked with other teams and held roles at the FIA and Formula One. Alpine is 10th in the constructors' standings ___ AP auto racing:
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
F1 team Alpine look to make move to lure Valtteri Bottas from Mercedes for 2026
Formula 1 constructor Alpine have enquired about acquiring 10-time race winner Valtteri Bottas as their second driver in what could be a sensational shake-up on the grid. Alpine are adamant on getting their driver line-up right for 2026 and Bottas, a former Mercedes driver might be the key as the team looks to successfully transition out of a poor year. The Enstone-based team currently sit last in the constructors championship standings with only 11 points. Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Their fortunes could be set to change as they look to switch to a Mercedes power unit next year, and a former driver of theirs might just be the perfect fit to help steer their chances. Alpine's executive advisor and de factor team principal Flavio Briatore has enquired with the Silver Arrows about the move with the expectation Mercedes will not stand in the way of their reserve driver landing a permanent seat. Bottas is contracted until the end of the year. While Frenchman Pierre Gasly remains part of the Alpine project moving forward, there are question marks over the second seat currently held by a struggling Frank Colapinto, who already took the seat from Aussie Jack Doohan earlier in the racing season. Bottas suddenly has a couple of suitors. The 35-year-old and former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez are the frontrunners to be the two drivers for Cadillac, which is joining F1 as the sport's 11th team next season. After sacking Doohan, Briatore said Alpine planned to rotate the second seat among their reserve drivers for the reset of the season, depending Colapinto's performance. Highly rated reserve driver Paul Aron will make his debut in the first practice session this weekend at the British Grand Prix for rival team, in an agreement with Alpine. Colapinto has struggled since his debut for the team, still without a point in his five races, however he isn't the only one to blame. Given Gasly has also struggled to perform, notching points on only one occasion since Colapinto's arrival, it's clear the car is not up to the standard that Alpine want. The switch to the Mercedes power unit mean their fortunes could be set to chance next year, meaning a simultaneous driver change could also be in the cards. Bottas makes the most sense, given the experience of 247 grands prix to his name, among them 10 race wins and 67 podiums with Mercedes. The Finnish driver is the reserve driver for Mercedes this year, giving him a unique insight into the development of the 2026 car Alpine will ultimately end up with. Though he remains the reserve driver for Mercedes, his path to the grid remains blocked by George Russell and young sensation Kimi Antonelli who look set to be the driver pairing for the foreseeable future. That is unless Red Bull driver Max Verstappen looks to test his options — the four time champion could find himself in the Mercedes garage if a shock team switch eventuates, but neither scenario helps Bottas.
