Briatore downplays the driver market while Sainz considers his future.

      Flavio Briatore has downplayed rumors regarding a possible driver change at Alpine, as Carlos Sainz considers his options for 2027. The Spanish driver's future has become a topic of discussion again with his contract at Williams nearing renewal, where advancements in 2026 have been slower than anticipated. Sainz stated to DAZN in Barcelona that he plans to remain with Williams but acknowledged he will assess his options before making a commitment for 2027.

      "My plan is to stay with Williams," he declared. "I want to continue with this car and this project." Nonetheless, the former Ferrari driver recognized the necessity of making a decision this year and evaluating "all his options." This situation has sparked speculation regarding Alpine, where Sainz had previously raced for Renault. However, Briatore maintains that Alpine’s priority is not to invest heavily in a star driver.

      When asked by Sky Italia if he was monitoring the driver market for a potential world champion signing, the Italian replied, "At this moment, if I have a driver who can bring me two or three tenths more, that’s not really the issue. What I need to do is improve the car technically." He emphasized that Alpine’s current drivers, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, are not hindering the team's progress.

      "The moment I’ve improved the car, then things change," he clarified. "You have to go step by step. You can’t just put a driver in the car based on their reputation as a world champion and expect miracles if the car itself isn’t capable of winning." He further remarked, "You don’t hire a great driver to finish fifth."

      Alpine currently occupies fifth place in the constructors’ standings, and Briatore is now focused on the next goal. "Right now, we’re defending fifth, but it’s not over. Now we have to aim for fourth place." The 76-year-old believes that narrowing the gap to the leading teams must take precedence over significant driver investments.

      "When we get there, then the driver makes the difference," he said. "But until I have a car that is one or two tenths closer to that fourth team, because you can’t catch all three at once, can you? You have to take them on one at a time." Only at that point would Briatore consider a substantial expenditure on a driver.

      "When I have a car that’s two tenths behind McLaren, then I start thinking about drivers," he noted. "Then I start to see that investing in a driver is crucial because those three or four tenths can come from them." "So right now it’s premature to discuss it," Briatore stressed. "Maybe by August, we’ll find ourselves in a different situation and have a different conversation. But I have a program that extends from here to there. I’ve reached this stage, and to advance to the next, I need a car that is technically very close to the fourth-best team that I want to overtake."