Live from the Spanish Grand Prix, Flavio Briatore weighs in on F1 history: “Today, I choose Max.”
Flavio Briatore, currently serving as Special Advisor to the BWT Alpine F1 Team, has no doubts about who the best driver of the modern era is: Max Verstappen is number one. Speaking to Corriere della Sera during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, the Italian manager didn’t hold back when asked about the greatest of all time:
“The best driver of all time? I don’t know — we’ve had Schumacher, Senna, Alonso… But today, without a doubt, it’s Max Verstappen.”
That’s a statement that carries weight, especially coming from someone who worked directly with two legends of the sport — Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso — and played a pivotal role in their championship successes with Benetton and Renault. Briatore’s recognition further confirms what many already believe: Verstappen is the benchmark in Formula 1 today.
Meanwhile, Alpine Struggles
Despite Briatore’s praise for the Dutchman, Alpine’s current form is far from promising. In Barcelona, Pierre Gasly secured a decent eighth-place finish, scoring four valuable points for the French team. But it wasn’t enough: with Nico Hülkenberg picking up ten points for Sauber, Alpine has now slipped to the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship standings. Here’s how things look:
- Sauber: 16 points
- Aston Martin: 16 points
- Alpine: 11 points
It’s a scenario that seemed unthinkable at the start of the season, especially following the internal restructuring spearheaded by Briatore himself. While he’s not officially listed as Team Principal by the FIA, he is widely regarded as the driving force behind Alpine’s sporting project.
What’s Next at Enstone? Colapinto Under Pressure
The future at Alpine hangs in the balance. The Renault power unit remains one of the weakest on the grid (with the team set to switch to Mercedes engines in 2026), and Pierre Gasly is currently the only stable asset on the driver front. After Jack Doohan’s exit, even Franco Colapinto’s position is reportedly at risk, with Mick Schumacher being eyed as a potential replacement.
In short: stability is in short supply when it comes to Alpine’s second seat.
Photo: BWT Alpine F1 Team
