Gasly hails Briatore’s leadership at Alpine: ‘This is what we need’

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Pierre Gasly feels a renewed sense of hope at Alpine, and he’s pointing to one man as a driving force behind the team’s resurgence: Flavio Briatore.

The Frenchman has watched the Italian, brought on as Executive Advisor in June 2024 by Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo, breathe fresh life into a squad that stumbled out of the gate last season.

Briatore, a polarizing figure with a storied past, once led the Enstone squad – then Benetton and Renault – to championship glory in the ‘90s and 2000s. Now, his leadership, experience, and connections are lifting Alpine from a mid-pack slump toward a brighter future.

Leadership That Inspires

Since Briatore’s return, Gasly has noticed a marked change in Alpine’s mindset and ambition. Speaking to the media last month in London, the one-time Grand Prix winner emphasized how the veteran leader’s presence has revitalized the team’s focus and direction.

“I’m not with him every single day, but I can tell he’s bringing leadership,” Gasly said.

“That’s what we need in a F1 team. You need to have a leader who knows exactly where to bring his truth with 1,500 employees.”

Gasly highlighted how Briatore’s extensive network and profound understanding of Formula 1 make him an invaluable asset.

“He’s got experience in F1. He’s got incredibly good connections, whether it’s on the technical side or whether it’s on the management side in terms of sponsors,” he added.

With Briatore’s history of elevating Alpine’s Enstone base to championship status, Gasly believes that his enduring commitment is a key factor in the team’s resurgence.

“Times have changed, but his dedication and commitment and motivation to make it happen again hasn’t changed. This is something very important, which I’m very glad to see,” he said.

A New Era Under Briatore and Oakes

Briatore’s appointment wasn’t the only major leadership change for Alpine in 2024. In August, Oliver Oakes stepped in as Team Principal, forming a dynamic partnership with the Italian to overhaul the team’s strategy and vision.

The results were immediate, as Alpine climbed from ninth to sixth in the Constructors’ standings during the latter half of the season.

“I’m very pleased since Oli and Flav joined the team,” he said. “You can clearly see the mindset and the spirit of the team is heading in the right direction.”

According to Gasly, the positive transformation is not just in leadership but in how every department is striving to optimize performance.

“I think the processes in all departments are really being challenged and delivering the best they can and that’s what we’re doing,” he noted.

Winning Mentality Driving Alpine Forward

Despite the progress, Gasly remains grounded about the work still ahead, while sharing his belief in Briatore’s competitive nature and ultimate goal.

“There’s still a long way to go, but Flavio is a competitor,” he explained. “He’s in F1 to win. I’m in F1 to win,” he said.

“Oli is in F1 to bring the team to the top and also to win. It’s going to take the time we need, but definitely as a team I can see a lot of positivity and tell we’re going in the right way.”

Gasly’s confidence in the leadership changes suggests that Alpine is on the right track to recapturing the success of its glory days under Briatore’s guidance.

The combination of Briatore’s seasoned insight and Oakes’ fresh approach may just be the recipe for Alpine’s long-awaited return to the top.

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