Ralf Schumacher calls on Alpine: "Horner should be considered instead of Briatore"

Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has stated that Christian Horner would be a much more suitable candidate to manage the Alpine team than Flavio Briatore. Speaking to German newspaper Bild, Schumacher argued that managers with technical knowledge should take precedence over charismatic figures.

"I think the era of personalities like Flavio is over," Schumacher said, adding: "We now need people with technical knowledge at the helm, like someone with Horner's profile. Flavio can contribute as an organiser, face and liaison figure, but not as an absolute leader."

These statements follow Christian Horner's surprise departure from Red Bull in July. After 20 years at the helm, Red Bull handed over the roles of team principal and CEO to Laurent Mekies. While the team hasn't officially announced the reasons, they're speculating on a decline in performance and the departure of key figures. Red Bull currently sits in fourth place, 365 points behind McLaren . Briatore returned to Alpine as a management consultant in 2024, returning to the paddock after 15 years following the Crashgate scandal. Following the resignation of team principal Oliver Oakes last May, Briatore assumed a more central role at Alpine. While the team recently appointed Steve Nielsen as managing director, Briatore will remain in his top executive role.

As the 2026 season, when new technical regulations will be implemented, the appointment of an experienced manager like Horner to head Alpine is frequently being discussed. Former driver Karun Chandhok also suggested that Horner might need a break for now, saying, “He’s been at the forefront of every race for two decades, and he hasn’t taken a break like other owners. He might need a breather. But if he decides to continue, Alpine could be an interesting place for him.”