Briatore convinced Sainz to sign for Alpine?

The story about Carlos Sainz’s future employment, as the European press writes, already resembles a ‘soap opera’ with an endless number of episodes, but it cannot be ruled out that the end is already near.

And in its own way it is unexpected: Gazzetta dello Sport writes that Flavio Briatore, who returned to the Formula 1 paddock just a few weeks ago as an Alpine advisor with very wide powers, convinced Sainz to sign a long-term contract with the Renault works team.

We reported that Briatore and Luca de Meo, the head of the French concern, are showing interest in Sainz, referring to the Spanish press. But the Italian newspaper writes about Carlos’ move to Alpine as a matter that is practically decided.

The Milan publication recalls that the 74-year-old Briatore has always stood out for his ability to solve problems with driver contracts, since it was he who once brought Michael Schumacher to Benetton, Fernando Alonso to Renault and Mark Webber to Red Bull Racing.

However, it seemed unlikely that Carlos Sainz would make a decision in favor of Alpine, as the Enstone team is not going through the best period in its history – the Spaniard already played for it in 2017-2018, spending 24 races there. However, Briatore apparently managed to convince him by introducing him to a plan to overcome the crisis, the main part of which would be the abandonment of not the most efficient Renault power plants and the switch to Mercedes engines in 2026.

This could be a strong argument, a kind of guarantee that when Formula 1 switches to new technical regulations, Alpine cars will have powerful and reliable engines. However, the production programme of the engine division in Viry-Chatillon will in future be limited to supplying power units to the Alpine factory endurance racing team.

Apparently, the financial aspect was not dominant for Sainz in the negotiations with teams. If economics had been his priority, he would have accepted the generous offer from Audi/Sauber. On his desk was already a ready-made three-year contract, according to which he should earn more at the Swiss team than at Ferrari, where he gets around 12 million euros per year.

However, Carlos was in no hurry to sign him, and at the same time his managers were in negotiations with Williams, because the British team also receives power units from Mercedes. Moreover, we were talking about a short-term contract – in case there is a vacancy at Red Bull in a year or two.

But then Flavio Briatore intervened in the situation, and events took a different turn. It is no coincidence that Pierre Gasly has signed new multi-year agreements with Alpine – the French driver is of course aware of the team’s future plans, and they seem convincing to him too. He and Sainz could form a pretty strong duo, as both have been driving in Formula 1 for a long time.

If everything goes exactly as Gazzetta dello Sport predicts, and Sainz’s contract with Alpine is confirmed soon, other events will follow. Valtteri Bottas could return to Williams, where he started his career, and Esteban Ocon will become Oliver Berman’s teammate at Haas.

But for now it remains to be seen who Audi will choose, because Andreas Seidl, head of the German company’s factory project in Formula 1, wants a top-class racer to partner Nico Hulkenberg, and is betting on Sainz…