Reports Suggest a Potential F1 Return of Fernando Alonso’s Ex-Boss to Alpine After a Decade To Replace Prost

After a year of the ambitious Renaulution strategic plan, the Alpine team have begun the second phase of upper-management layoffs. The team relieved executive director Marcin Budkowski of his responsibilities earlier this month. Soon after, news came in that team advisor Alain Prost has also left the Enstone-Viry team, citing personal difficulties with the management.

With Prost’s exit, it is officially the end of Cyril Abiteboul’s era in the team. The three core members have left and Rossi has taken over for now. Prost wildly accused his fellow Frenchman of a major restructuring that is motivated by political reasons.

“(When) even the slightest form of respect is lacking and under these conditions, I prefer to step aside. Laurent Rossi’s will is to be alone, he told me he no longer needs advice and wants all the spotlight for himself,” said Prost after his undignified exit.

Moreover, speculations are making the rounds that Flavio Briatore might replace Prost in the Enstone-Viry team, making a potential return to F1. Briatore shares a good relationship with Groupe Renault CEO Luca de Meo and Alpine driver Fernando Alonso.

Reports suggest Flavio Briatore might replace Alain Prost in Alpine

Briatore has a long-standing history with the Renault F1 team. He served as the managing director of the team. However, he was banned from the sport after the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix scandal. His chances of an F1 return looked slim ever since then. However, the latest update from the Spanish newspaper Marca suggests the opposite.

“Now there is a ‘place’ free as a consultant after Alain’s departure – added the source cited by the Iberian newspaper –and even if Alpine through the CEO has declared that he does not need consultants it is a scenario that cannot be excluded.”

Meanwhile, rumors have it that Otmar Szafnauer will replace Budkowski in the team. News of Szafnauer’s exit from the Silverstone-based team came in nearly a week ago. After a plethora of changes in the upper management, the team will look forward to improving the on-track performance in 2022. The latest F1 season reaped positive results for the Enstone-Viry team. They recorded their first race win after the rebranding last year, and a celebrated 98th podium for Fernando Alonso.

With a series of new appointments, Alpine would be looking to outperform their 2021 numbers. Fans are expecting a shift in the power dynamics on the grid next season. It will be interesting to see if these structural changes will help the team grow in the future. Tell us your predictions in the comment sections below.

Read More- “Not at All”: Alain Prost Rebuffs Any Role of Fernando Alonso in His Alpine F1 Exit