Briatore snaps over Schumacher as Alpine’s summer lineup looks shaky – With the Formula 1 paddock gathering in Barcelona for another high-stakes Grand Prix weekend, Alpine’s team principal, Flavio Briatore, is at the centre of mounting speculation — not about his current drivers, but about a former driver: Mick Schumacher.
The son of the seven-time world champion is once again being linked with a sensational return to the grid, and the rumour mill is churning louder than ever this time around. However, if Briatore has any patience left for the topic, he certainly didn’t show it during a tense media appearance on Friday.
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“Why are we talking about Schumacher?” – Briatore Bristles
The moment Mick Schumacher’s name was mentioned during Friday’s press conference, Briatore’s expression shifted from mild bemusement to open irritation. The 75-year-old, who returned to Formula 1 last year in a senior leadership role at Alpine, responded sarcastically to the question before ending the discussion.
“I’m not quite sure. Why are we talking about Schumacher now?” he asked, clearly exasperated.
“It’s 2025. I don’t understand. What do you want to know?”
When asked further about the possibility of Schumacher being a candidate for a seat at Alpine this season, Briatore’s sarcasm turned into a deadpan dismissal.
“Yes, of course. That’s what everyone says,” he replied dryly before curtly ending the conversation: “I don’t think that’s a question for here. I don’t want to talk about it. Next question.”
This was a sharp contrast to the usual cryptic non-denials that often characterise discussions about the driver market in F1. However, for those familiar with Briatore’s blunt communication style and calculated power plays, this was classic Flavio – cutting through the noise with a single swipe, even if it leaves more questions than answers in its wake.
The Alpine Equation: Gasly, Colapinto… and Mick?
Yet the speculation hasn’t come out of thin air. With Alpine’s driver situation still in flux after a volatile first half of the 2025 season, Mick Schumacher has emerged as a plausible fallback option in the eyes of many pundits and insiders.
Schumacher, now aged 26, has been out of a full-time Formula 1 seat for the last two years following his stint at Haas between 2021 and 2022. However, he has remained active with Alpine’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) team, keeping him within the Renault-Alpine ecosystem and ready to step in should a seat become available.
That scenario doesn’t seem entirely far-fetched. Franco Colapinto, who was promoted to the Alpine F1 team at short notice after the Miami Grand Prix to replace the underperforming Jack Doohan, is under pressure. When Alpine announced the appointment of the Argentinian rookie, they made it clear that he would be assessed over five races, with a formal performance evaluation expected after the Austrian Grand Prix at the end of June.
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Glock adds fuel to the Schumacher fire
Former F1 driver and current Sky Sports Germany pundit Timo Glock recently reignited the Schumacher discussion, suggesting that if Colapinto fails to meet expectations, Mick could be Alpine’s next move.
“If Colapinto doesn’t deliver, Mick is a logical candidate,” Glock said on air, noting Schumacher’s existing ties with the team and his prior race experience.
“They need someone solid who can help guide them through the transition towards 2026.”
While Glock’s theory is speculative, it does align with Alpine’s own positioning. The team has repeatedly described 2025 as a ‘transitional year’ in the lead-up to the significant regulatory changes set to take place in 2026. This leaves the door wide open for driver rotation and experimentation, especially now that Briatore is at the helm and is clearly unafraid of making bold moves.
Briatore’s vision: Performance First, Loyalty Later
When asked directly whether Colapinto could suffer the same fate as Jack Doohan and be ejected mid-season, Briatore was unequivocal.
“If Colapinto performs well, then he will drive the car. If not, then we will see,” he said flatly.
“2025 is the year we prepare for 2026. We’ll do whatever experiment I think is right.”
The use of the word ‘experiment’ is telling. It suggests that Briatore does not view Alpine’s current campaign as a championship charge, but rather as an opportunity to evaluate talent and prepare for the next era. In that context, neither Colapinto nor Gasly can feel entirely secure in their positions.
For now, Gasly seems to have the safer seat, if only because he has shown flashes of consistency in a chaotic environment. However, despite a promising debut, Colapinto remains an unknown quantity in Formula 1 terms. With Alpine under pressure from Renault Group executives to demonstrate meaningful progress, there is little room for sentimental decisions.
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From Advisor to Kingmaker: Briatore’s Expanding Influence
Since returning to Formula 1 in mid-2024, Briatore’s role at Alpine has evolved rapidly. Originally brought in as an ‘advisor’, he has steadily assumed more operational power within the team. Following the abrupt departure of former team principal Oliver Oakes in early May — officially for ‘personal reasons’ — Briatore now effectively runs the show, making all key decisions in conjunction with Renault CEO Luca de Meo.
Given Briatore’s growing authority and his track record of ruthless efficiency, talk of mid-season shake-ups is hardly surprising. The Italian has built his career on backing winners and dismissing anyone who fails to deliver. Drivers under his leadership know exactly what is expected of them and the consequences of falling short.
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Schumacher’s shadow still looms
Whether or not Mick Schumacher is being seriously considered, his name continues to loom over Alpine’s garage like an unspoken Plan B: his current role in the WEC team ensures he remains race-sharp and connected to the team’s engineering operations. His media profile remains strong, and the fact that he is a member of the renowned Schumacher family makes him a valuable commercial asset.
Furthermore, Schumacher is said to be keen to get another shot at F1. Despite interest from the American Cadillac project, no firm offers have materialised yet, so a potential opening at Alpine could be his most realistic path back to the grid.
However, if Briatore’s Friday press conference is anything to go by, the 75-year-old is determined not to be drawn into a PR circus. For now, he’s keeping his cards close to his chest.
All eyes now turn to the next few Grands Prix. With Colapinto set to be evaluated after the Spielberg race, the pressure on the rookie is immense. One misstep could trigger another reshuffle, and with Alpine treating this season as an experimental period, no outcome can be ruled out.
Although Briatore has dismissed questions about Mick Schumacher, the story is far from over, as evidenced by Alpine’s volatile driver market. Whether or not Schumacher gets a call-up, the next chapter of Alpine’s F1 drama has just begun.
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