"There were no employees present on site at that time." French authorities are probing a perplexing break-in at Alpine’s Viry-Chatillon facility, amid increasing suspicion that the incident may have been a case of industrial espionage. The unusual intrusion, first reported by Le Parisien, took place late on Monday night around 10 PM, when two unidentified individuals gained entry by breaking a window. As per police sources cited by French media, the intruders proceeded directly upstairs toward the management and executive offices, forcing open several internal doors before exiting the building only a few minutes later. Importantly, it appears that nothing was taken. "Nothing was stolen. Everything is fine. There were no employees present on site at that time," a source close to Alpine informed Le Parisien. The Evry public prosecutor confirmed that an investigation is currently in progress. Security footage and fingerprints are being examined, but no arrests have been made as of now. With theft ruled out, Le Parisien noted: "All other possibilities are being explored, including industrial espionage." L’Equipe pointed out the unusual timing and location: the historic Viry site is no longer involved in designing Alpine’s F1 power units, as the team will be using customer Mercedes engines starting in 2026. Many of the engine staff have already moved to other locations, including Ferrari. French media also noted that the intruders seemed to know precisely where they were headed, going directly to the senior offices before quickly exiting through a side door. Alpine has not made any public statements beyond confirming the occurrence of the incident.

      "Otherwise, we have no chance"

      Red Bull’s Dr. Helmut Marko has candidly acknowledged that for Max Verstappen to keep his championship hopes alive, Lando Norris would need to experience a significant setback. In his latest column for Speed Week, Marko pointed out that the points situation leaves Verstappen without a viable opportunity unless something external occurs.

      "With a 49-point gap to Norris, three Grands Prix left, and a sprint finish, something has to happen with Lando Norris now to keep Max’s championship hopes alive," he stated. "Otherwise, we have no chance – either Lando must retire or there must be a collision."

      Despite the challenges, Marko expressed a "positive" outlook considering how far Red Bull has improved its performance. "We're not pleased with the gap, but what’s encouraging for us is that we’ve managed this turnaround throughout the season, and so dramatically that we’ve found ourselves back in the championship battle," said the Austrian.

      Looking ahead, he mentioned that the remaining tracks are less predictable than they used to be. "Evaluating the balance of power on the last three circuits isn't straightforward, as the days when a specific track was tailored to a certain car are over," Marko noted. "If we establish the right setup, we’ll be competing at McLaren’s level. Las Vegas should be favorable for us due to its high-speed sections. Qatar and Abu Dhabi, with their medium-speed corners, may suit McLaren better – but such evaluations are no longer as reliable as they once were."

      Marko also revealed that Red Bull has pinpointed the reason for their inconsistent performance in Brazil: the floor specification, which was altered multiple times over the weekend. "We now know, in principle, which floor we will continue to use and which wing configuration is most effective."

      Meanwhile, it was revealed that McLaren's claim that Verstappen’s new engine in Brazil should impact Red Bull's cost cap was unfounded; it has come to light that the power unit was indeed reported within the budget-cap limits.