Alpine continues to stand as a French Formula 1 outfit, even if interest from within France itself appears lacking.
That's the stance of Renault CEO Luca de Meo, an Italian overseeing the company, while his renowned compatriot Flavio Briatore drives a transformation following a significant downturn for the F1 team in 2024.
"The car is much better," Briatore told Canal Plus in Bahrain, "we have new and very important sponsors and the team is starting to take shape."
Among those sponsors is Mercado Libra, tied to new reserve driver Franco Colapinto as one of his personal supporters.
"We are starting to have a racing team again," Briatore said. "Pierre (Gasly) is happy with the performance of the car and a lot of things will change again soon in the team.
"We have to be competitive again, be an aggressive team, capable of winning races. I have given myself three years to put Alpine back in its place in Formula 1 because we have everything to do well. Everything."
Intriguingly, Dmitry Mazepin—Russian billionaire and father of former Haas driver Nikita, once closely linked to Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes—attended as Alpine's guest in Bahrain on Thursday.
With Alpine set to shutter its works F1 engine program at Viry-Chatillon by year's end, transitioning to Mercedes customer engines, questions arise about the team's ongoing French credentials.
"We remain a French team, of course," Renault CEO de Meo asserted to France's Auto Hebdo.
"History has led us in this direction, but if we could find French talent, French sponsors too, we would have them. But we can't find any.
"So we have to look for opportunities elsewhere. But we still consider Alpine as the French national team in Formula 1."
Perhaps more than its rivals, Alpine is evidently prioritising the sweeping 2026 regulations, with pundits noting the 2025 car relies on a "recycled" 2024 chassis.
"In terms of feeling, I would say it is a continuation of what I felt at the end of last year, with some developments," French driver Gasly told L'Equipe.
"I think we have a healthy base."
Paired with rookie Jack Doohan, and with the possibility of another newcomer, Argentine Colapinto, stepping into the second seat later in 2025, Gasly acknowledges a growing leadership role.
"I know that there is a lot of attention on my technical feedback now," Gasly said. "The team does not hide it. I see that they are all listening to me.
"For me, it is a position that requires a little more responsibility but I appreciate it," he added. "I feel that there is much more serenity in the team than there was last year at the same time.
"You could almost say that it's night and day."
