Yesterday at 09:15
Flavio Briatore has confirmed that Mick Schumacher is not on
Alpine's "list" of potential drivers for its second seat, despite
the German competing for the team in endurance racing. The
26-year-old has spent the past two years racing in WEC for the
French outfit, as he continues to seek a way back to a full-time
seat in F1. However, the executive adviser and de facto team
principal of the Enstone-based squad has revealed the former Haas
driver is not under consideration to partner Pierre Gasly in 2026.
Whilst the Frenchman has recently been tied into a contract
extension that will see him remain at Alpine until 2028, who will
sit in the cockpit alongside him is still unclear. Incumbent Franco
Colapinto has struggled since taking over from Jack Doohan six
rounds into the campaign, as whilst the Argentine's performances
have improved of late, he has underwhelmed, with Briatore outspoken
with his dissatisfaction. "Doohan had too many accidents," the
Italian told Auto, Motor und Sport . "Colapinto was also
disappointing at the beginning. "We thought he would do better. Now
he's slowly getting going. He knows the car better and feels more
comfortable. "Looking back, we underestimated the pressure that
these young drivers are exposed to. Alpine is a factory team. The
pressure is even greater. It multiplies in a difficult season.
Rookies find it easier in a small team. Look at [Isack] Hadjar and
[Gabriel] Bortoleto." Coincidentally, Alpine is surrendering its
factory status next season, becoming a Mercedes customer as F1
overhauls its chassis and power unit regulations. Having taken the
highly unusual step of forgoing being a works team, hopes are high
that Alpine can move up the pecking order. Sitting bottom of the
constructors' standings on 20 points, which have all been scored by
Gasly, Briatore is in search of a driver who can adequately partner
with the one-time grand prix winner. "I'm still open to the second
cockpit," added the 75-year-old. "Maybe I should sign a Formula E
driver? But seriously, we're still open. "The two drivers with
experience are going to Cadillac [Valtteri Bottas and Sergio
Perez]. Let's see how our young drivers do in the rest of the
season. We have Colapinto, we have [Paul] Aron, and we will also
test again with [Jack] Doohan." However, when asked about
Schumacher, who is believed to have recently turned down a reserve
driver role at Cadillac, Briatore shuts down any possibility,
stating: "He's not on our list."
