Ferrari’s tough 2025 F1 season has fueled speculation about a leadership change, with Alpine’s Flavio Briatore backed to replace team principal Fred Vasseur.
Briatore, a controversial yet successful figure in Formula 1, returned to the paddock in 2024 as an executive advisor for Alpine, initially working alongside team principal Oliver Oakes.
Following Oakes’ abrupt resignation in May 2025 for personal reasons, Briatore took on interim team principal duties, overseeing Alpine’s operations during a challenging season where they languish at the bottom of the constructors’ championship with just 11 points.
Despite never having worked with Ferrari, Briatore’s Italian heritage and past successes with Benetton and Renault, where he led teams to multiple championships, make him an intriguing prospect.
La Russa, speaking on Rai Radio 1’s La Politica nel Pallone, praised Briatore’s capabilities, saying, “Flavio is a dear friend of mine. Whatever he has done, he has always done very, very well.”
However, he cautioned that Ferrari’s issues run deeper than leadership alone, adding, “I don’t think a great manager would be enough to manage Ferrari at this moment. It is a question of going much deeper than just changing the manager who leads the teams.”
Ferrari’s 2025 campaign has been disappointing, with no race wins despite high expectations fueled by their strong 2024 season and a formidable driver lineup of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Italian media reports have suggested Vasseur’s position is under scrutiny, though he has argued the teams’ struggles cannot be pinned solely on the team principal. La Russa echoed this sentiment but suggested Briatore could provide the shake-up Ferrari need, stating, “Flavio would be a resource that could give a major shake-up. He is capable not only of growing but also of getting things done.”
At Alpine, Briatore has been steering the teams through a period of transition, including the decision to abandon their 2026 engine project and switch to Mercedes power units. He remains optimistic about their future, targeting podiums in 2026 and a championship challenge by 2027.
However, he has denied any immediate plans to leave Alpine, telling reporters at the Canadian Grand Prix, “I’m now 100% committed and surrounded by a very strong team across all departments.”
As Ferrari search for solutions to their on-track woes, Briatore’s name adds a layer of intrigue to their potential restructuring. Fans will be watching closely as the teams head to the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on June 29, where Ferrari will aim to turn their season around over 71 laps of the 4.318-kilometer circuit.
