Latest news with #FlavioBriatore
New York Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- New York Times
Why Franco Colapinto is staying in Alpine's second F1 seat on a race-by-race basis
When Franco Colapinto replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams midway through the 2024 season, he took Formula One by storm. He has not made the same impact at Alpine this year, but the 22-year-old has done enough to stay in the team's second seat for this weekend's British Grand Prix. When it was announced that the Argentine would replace Jack Doohan for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in May, Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore said, 'Having reviewed the opening races of the season, we have decided to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five races.' Advertisement An assessment was planned to take place after last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix to evaluate how Alpine's contracted drivers compared to Pierre Gasly, with the experienced Frenchman's performance being used as a benchmark. From this point, Alpine will continue assessing its driver lineup to determine the best drivers for 2026. It's not a done deal that Colapinto will finish the season, but he has done enough across his initial five weekends to at least warrant a sixth grand prix. Yet he faces different obstacles with this driver swap compared to his Williams stint, as he's only been with Alpine since January. 'If Colapinto is performing, he's driving the car. If not, we'll see — 2025 is a year we need to prepare ourselves for 2026,' Briatore said in Spain last month. 'So whatever experiment I need doing, we're doing. I don't know if Franco will stay for the season, but let's see. Depends on the performance. 'We're only looking at the performance — nothing else.' Emilia-Romagna: It was a challenging first Alpine outing for Colapinto at Imola. He crashed during qualifying and was more conservative with his start on race day, losing positions that he did eventually recover. He finished in the same place he started, P16. He was undone by race strategy, too, as he had a few laps on hard tires when the safety car came out, and he struggled to keep up with those who had new tires. Monaco: Colapinto qualified last, started P18 and recovered to P13. Alpine planned to use him to help Gasly make the most of the race's two mandatory pit stops, so the team started him on the hard tires — but when Gasly collided with Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda, Colapinto's strategy had a wrench thrown in. He pitted earlier as a result and points were always realistically out of the question. Advertisement Spain: Briatore said in a news conference after the first practice (FP1) in Barcelona that this was 'the first real race of Franco.' The weekend ended in frustration as he couldn't show his full potential. His qualifying came to a premature end after he reported an issue over the radio while sitting in the pit lane, causing a queue to form behind him. Alpine 'identified a driveline issue' and had to replace the car's gearbox. He started from P18 and finished 15th, spending a chunk of the race stuck in traffic. Canada: Colapinto took a step forward this weekend, admitting he 'felt more comfortable and at ease with the car' during qualifying. He made a mistake en route to qualifying P12 — touching the wall on his final run — but outqualified Gasly. He said in Alpine's post-session recap, 'Overall, I'm happy with the progression. I'm still finding my feet in the team and understanding where I need to go with the setup.' He started the race 10th and made a solid start, overtaking a few cars, but ended in P13. Traffic and strategy cost him, but the weekend could be considered a step in the right direction. Austria: Colapinto didn't have the strongest practice day, finishing P16 while Gasly had the fifth-fastest lap in FP1, and plum last in FP2. He showed more pace in qualifying and advanced to Q2 for the second time with Alpine, but he couldn't join Gasly in Q3. On race day, both drivers struggled with tire degradation in the hot conditions, and Colapinto ended up in battles with Tsunoda. During one of these, Colapinto received a penalty for forcing Oscar Piastri off the track as the lead-contending McLaren came by to lap the pair. Colapinto was also racing with damage from an earlier tangle with Tsunoda. These five races have been an adjustment for Colapinto. It's a new team, a new car and learning on the fly without preseason testing. He is at least familiar with the F1 world thanks to his Williams stint. 'We've been working hard in the team to understand which direction was making me more comfortable with the (car) setup,' Colapinto said in Austria. 'It's been a good job by everyone in the factory to help me, even when I was struggling, to bring me up to speed again.' Colapinto feels Alpine has found his ideal setup. After four of his first five races, Colapinto entered the Austrian GP weekend feeling 'more comfortable and more connected with the car.' When asked what areas he could improve, Colapinto pointed out his Alpine experience was still just a few grands prix. The simple answer was: 'All of them.' 'We've been learning many things every time I jumped in the car and we've been focusing on our weaknesses,' he continued. 'The important thing is that we capitalise on where we have to work on. That's going to bring the performance.' Advertisement Building a stronger base with clean Friday practice sessions is one example. Colapinto described it as 'building momentum for the rest of the weekend.' Without a solid Friday, a driver starts on the back foot. When all was said and done in Austria, Colapinto was asked about being at the end of the five-race evaluation and where he feels he now stands. '(We're) focusing on improving the car. We looked a bit weak today, and we need to take some steps forward. The car has been a bit tricky to drive — not very consistent,' he said on Sunday. 'It's quick, but the reactivity didn't give me that confidence that I needed to push in the high speed here. It was a tough weekend. Overall, we made some steps forward, but something didn't click.' Colapinto is now holding onto his seat on a race-by-race basis. He said after the Austrian GP that Briatore 'has been very supportive and he trusts in the decision he made.' The goal for Alpine is to determine the strongest driver lineup for next season, when significant changes to car design regulations could shake up the sport's hierarchy. When asked whether he has held reassurance talks with Briatore, Colapinto said, 'Yes, every day.' Colapinto will benefit from further experience, as with any young F1 driver, but assessments are ongoing. Before the swap with Doohan, Colapinto only had simulator sessions and a few private test outings to prepare, similar to Alpine's other reserve driver, Paul Aron. By comparison, Doohan had months of preparation — sitting on the sidelines last season to do a full testing program and even hopping into a race seat in Abu Dhabi last year when he replaced Esteban Ocon, before he got the usual winter preseason prep program. When comparing the pace gaps between Gasly and his teammates since last season's closer, the data suggests that Colapinto might already be an upgrade on Doohan. Advertisement Gasly vs Doohan (seven races): Qualifying head-to-head: 5-1 Average gap: +0.362 seconds Gasly vs Colapinto (five races): Qualifying head-to-head: 4-1 Average gap: +0.237 seconds Alpine also needs to deliver a consistently competitive car to all its drivers. According to Gasly, no upgrades will arrive before the summer break. Alpine has already shifted its focus to its 2026 car, which will also feature the switch to Mercedes power units and gearboxes. But Aron represents a wildcard scenario. After Doohan replaced Ocon for the Abu Dhabi GP, Alpine used Aron for its post-season young driver test, impressing the team in the process. This week, it was announced that the 21-year-old Estonian would make his free practice debut with Sauber at the British GP on Friday, before another FP1 session in Hungary. After that, Aron will fulfil Alpine's remaining three rookie sessions this season (after Doohan used one while still classed as a practice rookie in Australia). Such a lengthy program allows Alpine to assess what Aron can do with the current season's cars. For the team's crucial 2026 seat, all options remain open.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Michael Schumacher's wife rejected offer from former team-mate to 'help wake him up' after his tragic skiing accident left him with brain injuries
Michael Schumacher 's former team-mate has revealed he offered to 'help wake up' the Formula 1 legend - only for his family to decline. Schumacher has not been seen publicly since suffering catastrophic brain injuries during a skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013. His loved ones have fiercely protected his privacy and he is surrounded by a tight-knit circle while under 24-hour care at his family home in Switzerland. Flavio Briatore, his former team boss at Benetton, described him as 'just lying in a bed' while Briatore's ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci, claimed in a previous interview that Schumacher is unable to speak and is only visited by a handful of people. 'Michael doesn't speak, he communicates with his eyes,' Gregoraci said. 'Only three people can visit him and I know who they are.' German journalist Felix Gorner struck a similarly tragic picture after reporting earlier this year that the now 56-year-old is 'completely dependent' on his caregivers. Despite the shroud of secrecy, Riccardo Patrese, who teamed up with Schumacher in 1993 and became close friends with the icon, offered to try and assist in his recovery, believing hearing a familiar voice might have triggered a reaction. 'Then he had the accident,' Patrese told 'That is a very sad moment. You know that sometimes if they hear [a familiar voice], some boys wake up, that they recognise a voice. 'I asked [Schumacher's wife] Corinna if they wanted me to go there and try to help if I could. Well, if I could, I would have, but they said, "No, thank you. It's not the moment. It's not the moment." But that moment has never come.' Speaking to the Irish Mirror in 2022, late F1 great Eddie Jordan revealed he had been politely turned away by Corinna when he tried to arrange to a visit. Corinna gave a rare behind the scenes glimpse into their life together in the 2021 Netflix documentary Schumacher, when she explained how his family remain united around him. 'Michael is here. Different, but he's here, and that gives us strength, I find,' she said. 'We live together at home. 'We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable. No matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.'
Newsweek
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Alpine F1 Boss Breaks Silence on Leadership Shakeup After Renault CEO Exit
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Alpine F1 interim team principal Flavio Briatore has opened up on the effects of a leadership change at parent company Renault. CEO Luca de Meo announced he was stepping down from his role after the Canadian Grand Prix. De Meo's exit raised several questions about the future of the Alpine F1 team, especially considering the recent exit of full-time team principal Oliver Oakes. Briatore was appointed as a senior advisor to de Meo last year in a bid to make Alpine a winning team again. The Enstone-based team has mostly struggled in the current ground effect era with an underpowered power unit. Currently, the team is placed last in the championship standings, and a leadership shakeup would likely add to the confidence problem. Alpine special advisor Flavio Briatore walks in the paddock during day two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 27, 2025 in Bahrain, Bahrain. Alpine special advisor Flavio Briatore walks in the paddock during day two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 27, 2025 in Bahrain, Briatore has suggested that it is business as usual for Alpine. When asked by Reuters if de Meo's exit meant anything for the team, he said: "Nothing, absolutely nothing. "Nothing changed for me. Not for me or the team. And congratulations to Luca, new job." Alpine driver Pierre Gasly also opened up on de Meo's exit. Newsweek Sports previously reported his comments: "First of all, I think I need to have all the information. I have a very good relationship with Luca, he was the one that took me into the team, and I think he's a very inspiring person. "So obviously, first reaction is that I'm very sad to see him leave. "I'm sure he's got some good reasons. And I think at the end, for us as a team - even though not everything is great at the moment - there's still a lot of positives happening at the factory." He added: "For me, it's important that we keep that momentum going into '26, because the picture and the performance could be very different. And we need to keep that in mind. "And I think it's important for all of us to stick as a team and stick together in these types of moments. "And, you know, rely on each other and just trust the long game." Renault made a major decision last year to shut down Alpine's F1 engine operations at its Viry-Châtillon factory, becoming a customer team from 2026 amid rising costs. As a result, Alpine's F1 cars in the new era of regulations starting in 2026 will be powered by Mercedes power units. Alpine's status shift from a works team to a customer team raised many questions, especially about the team's long-term future in the sport. With de Meo's exit, it remains to be seen who will replace him and what decisions will follow.
News.com.au
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Michael Schumacher's close friend paints sad picture about F1 icon's life after horrific ski accident
Michael Schumacher's close friend and former boss Flavio Briatore has opened up on the heartbreaking reality of the F1 icon's life after a horror ski incident more than a decade ago. Schumacher suffered devastating head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013 which left him in a medically-induced coma for 250 days. Schumacher's condition has remained a closely guarded secret since then, with his family limiting the number of people who can visit him. And in a sad new update, Briatore – who oversaw Schumacher's rise at Benetton – says that he finds it best to remember the 56-year-old as he was prior to the accident rather than how he is now. 'If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a win,' he told Corriere della Sera. 'I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though.' Briatore first joined Benetton in 1985, before taking over as the team principal only six years later. And one of his first acts in the role was to sign Schumacher from Jordan, which was seen as one of the biggest moves in F1 history. In 1994 and 1995, the German driver won his first two world titles before joining Ferrari where he won five championships from 2000 and 2004. The reality of Schumacher still being almost exclusively bed-bound reinforced the tragedy and his long struggle since, with many friends kept away due to the family's commitment to privacy. And Briatore's sad revelation aligns with recent reports from German journalist Felix Gorner, who earlier this year described the F1 legend as 'completely dependent' on caregivers and said he could no longer express himself through speech. While his wife Elisabetta Gregoraci, also previously revealed he is unable to speak and is visited by only a handful of people. 'Michael doesn't speak, he communicates with his eyes,' she said. 'Only three people can visit him and I know who they are.' Schumacher's wife Corinna also gave a rare glimpse into their life together in the 2021 Netflix documentary Schumacher, stating how just the fact he is still alive gives them strength and hope. 'Michael is here. Different, but he's here, and that gives us strength, I find,' she said. 'We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable … and no matter what, I will do everything I can. 'We all will.'
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Close Michael Schumacher friend paints sad picture of what F1 legend's life has now become after horror ski accident in 2013 left him with brain damage
Michael Schumacher 's former team boss Flavio Briatore has offered a poignant glimpse into the F1 legend's private world. He says he chooses to remember Schumacher as he was, rather than dwell on the heartbreaking reality of his condition more than 10 years after his devastating ski crash. Schumacher has not been seen publicly since suffering catastrophic brain injuries during a skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013. The seven-time world champion, now 56, has been under 24-hour care at his family home in Switzerland ever since. In a rare comment, Briatore — who oversaw Schumacher's rise at Benetton and remains close to his wife, Corinna — reflected on how he chooses to remember the F1 great, rather than focus on his current condition. 'If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a win,' he told Corriere della Sera. 'I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though.' The stark image of Schumacher 'just lying on a bed' has reinforced the sense of tragedy surrounding his long struggle, with fans and even some friends largely kept in the dark due to the family's unwavering commitment to privacy. Briatore's comments echo those of his ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci, who claimed in an earlier interview that Schumacher is unable to speak and is visited by only a handful of people. 'Michael doesn't speak, he communicates with his eyes,' she said. 'Only three people can visit him and I know who they are.' That aligns with reports from German journalist Felix Gorner, who said earlier this year the F1 icon is 'completely dependent' on caregivers and 'can no longer express himself verbally.' Despite the silence, a small circle of confidants continues to visit Schumacher — among them Jean Todt, the man who worked alongside him during his dominant Ferrari years. 'I see him regularly and with affection, him and his family. Our bond goes beyond the past work,' Todt told La Repubblica. 'It is part of my life, which today is very far from Formula 1.' Todt has previously revealed he watches races with Schumacher, even if things are no longer as they once were. In 2023, he told L'Equipe: '[He] is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children, who protect him.' The Schumacher family's desire to shield him from public view has led to confusion — and at times, misinformation. Last year, reports circulated that Schumacher had attended daughter Gina-Maria's wedding in Majorca, but that was swiftly debunked. 'Unfortunately, from what I understand, that was all A1 fake news and no truth in it,' said former Benetton team-mate Johnny Herbert. Nonetheless, the family continue to involve Michael in moments of meaning. Earlier this year, it emerged that he had contributed to a helmet signed by every living F1 world champion for Sir Jackie Stewart's Race Against Dementia charity. 'It is wonderful that Michael could sign the helmet in this worthy cause,' Stewart told the Mail Sport. 'His wife helped him, and it completed the set of every single champion still with us.' Schumacher's wife Corinna also gave a rare glimpse into their life together in the 2021 Netflix documentary Schumacher, explaining how the family remain united around him. 'Michael is here. Different, but he's here, and that gives us strength, I find,' she said. 'We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable… and no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.'
