Autobayng News Team
Alpine consultant Flavio Briatore has dismissed suggestions the team is looking to hire former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
Red Bull parted ways with Horner after 20 years earlier this season. He ran the team since it arrived in F1 in 2005 and guided them to a string of championship successes in the early 2010s and again in the 2020s.
Alpine has changed team principals more frequently than any of its rivals in recent years. However Briatore said the team is not looking to make a move for Horner.
“I’m not consider anything in this moment,” he said. “Christian is not in Formula 1 in this moment, anymore. I hope he comes back soon. But for the moment, he’s not in the picture of the team.”
The team lost its last team principal, Oliver Oakes, when he stood down for personal reasons in May. He had only been in the role for eight months.
Alpine has appointed Steve Nielsen to take over as managing director from next month. He has worked for the team previously, including with Briatore when it competed as Renault, and held positions at Formula One Management and the FIA.
“I’ve known Steve a long time,” said Briatore, “he was with me at Renault. We need somebody like Steve. We need a team manager.”
He expects Nielsen to take full control of the team’s day-to-day operations. “We need somebody who knows the system and knows the people, and someone who co-ordinates the team from A to Z,” said Briatore. “It’s not just one job I expect from Steve, I expect Steve to be in charge from A to Z. Basically, it’s what the managing director is doing.
“I’m happy to have Steve next week. I believe the first day is Monday, and our first race with Steve is in Monza.”
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