Alpine, currently languishing at the bottom of the constructors’ championship without a single point after four rounds, has addressed speculations about its future in Formula 1.
Despite finishing sixth last year with 120 points and podium finishes from drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, the team has struggled this season, falling behind alongside Sauber and Williams.
Amid rumors of a potential sale triggered by their poor performance, a spokesperson from Alpine has firmly denied these claims through comments to Planet F1.
“The rumours and stories about the team being for sale are false.
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“The team is categorically not for sale,” stated the team representative, indicating their commitment to improving their standings.
The speculation was fueled by comments from former team boss Eddie Jordan, who described Alpine as ‘embarrassing’ and ‘wide open’ for a takeover.
He suggested that Renault is reducing its involvement and hesitating to invest in the necessary updates for their 2026 power unit, casting doubts on the team’s presence on the F1 grid next year.
Rival teams have also criticized Alpine’s ambitious ‘100-race project’, which aims for regular podiums by 2024, expressing skepticism about its feasibility given the upcoming F1 regulation changes.
The situation at Alpine is further complicated by the potential departure of their French drivers, Gasly and Ocon, both of whom are Grand Prix winners and whose contracts expire at the end of the season.
With numerous other drivers also nearing the end of their contracts, the 2024 driver market could see significant movement.
Notably, a spot at Mercedes is open following Lewis Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari, with other teams like Red Bull and Aston Martin possibly having vacancies as well.
Leadership changes at Alpine have been frequent, with Bruno Famin now serving as the team principal after replacing Otmar Szafnauer in August last year.
Famin, previously the vice-president of the Motorsports brand, took over permanently in February and is already facing considerable pressure according to Ted Kravitz.
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In terms of their performance this year, Alpine has seen disappointing results, with positions far off the point-scoring places in all four races.
High-profile departures from the team include Sporting Director Alan Permane, CEO Laurent Rossi, Technical Director Matt Harman, and head aerodynamicist Dirk de Beer, following a restructuring.
Despite their current struggles, last year Alpine received significant investment from celebrities such as actor Ryan Reynolds, footballer Trent Alexander-Arnold, and golfer Rory McIlroy, who are likely expecting better results from a team that achieved two world championships in the 2000s under Renault’s brand.