--- title: "Briatore’s July ultimatum: Alpine to pick 2027 lineup as Alonso’s Aston Martin stalls" description: "Flavio Briatore says Alpine will finalize its 2027 driver roster by July 31. Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin struggles leave his future in flux and Gasly-Colapinto in pole position." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/flavio-briatore-sobre-el-futuro-de-fernando-alonso-en-aston-eb7b4f22 published: 2026-06-30T19:29:35.536+00:00 updated: 2026-06-30T19:29:35.536+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["f1", "motorsport"] --- # Briatore’s July ultimatum: Alpine to pick 2027 lineup as Alonso’s Aston Martin stalls > Flavio Briatore says Alpine will finalize its 2027 driver roster by July 31. Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin struggles leave his future in flux and Gasly-Colapinto in pole position. Flavio Briatore has set a July 31 deadline for Alpine to name its 2027 Formula 1 driver lineup. The French squad is already treating the announcement as fait accompli unless Pierre Gasly or Franco Colapinto suffer a dramatic collapse in form. Briatore, Alpine’s managing director, praised both drivers after Monaco and Barcelona, where Gasly climbed to P4 and Colapinto finished P8 on debut. “They’re delivering,” Briatore told *Autosprint*. “Unless something extraordinary happens, they stay.” Alpine’s urgency contrasts with Aston Martin’s sinking 2025 campaign. Fernando Alonso has managed just 22 points in the first nine races, 40 fewer than teammate Lance Stroll and 68 behind the Williams duo. Alonso’s best finish this season is P9 in Melbourne; his qualifying average is 12th. Mercedes’ latest engine upgrade, introduced in Barcelona, failed to close the gap, leaving Aston Martin 1.1 s off the pace in race trim. The team’s wind tunnel correlation issues have persisted since 2023, forcing engineers to chase performance with reactive tweaks rather than foundational gains. Briatore’s move is part tactical, part financial. Alpine’s cost cap ceiling allows only one external driver signing; locking in Gasly and Colapinto avoids expensive late-season bidding wars. Meanwhile, Alonso’s market value has dropped from a 2024 high of €18 m to under €10 m in 2025 broker quotes, a reflection of Aston Martin’s plummeting competitiveness. The price plunge mirrors the trajectory of Stoffel Vandoorne’s 2024 valuation after McLaren’s dismal season. Alonso’s camp insists no decision has been made, but Briatore’s timeline leaves little room for sentiment. “We’re not sentimental,” he said. “We’re in the business of winning races and titles.” Alpine’s next chance to showcase progress comes at the Austrian Grand Prix on June 22, where upgrades targeting high-speed stability could swing the narrative. The floor redesign and revised rear wing aim to reduce drag by 3% and improve rear-end grip, a critical fix for circuits like Spielberg where Alpine has historically struggled. The Alpine ultimatum also pressures rival teams. McLaren’s early-season struggles have left Lando Norris as the sole top-tier British driver without a 2027 seat locked, while Williams’ Alex Albon faces similar uncertainty despite a resurgent start. For Alonso, the clock is ticking faster than his contract’s 2026 expiry; every point he fails to score at Silverstone or Hungary is a point Briatore uses to justify keeping the current Alpine pair. Gasly’s upturn is no accident. After a rough 2024 with Alpine, he shifted to a more aggressive setup philosophy, prioritizing qualifying performance over race-day consistency. The results have been immediate: three Q3 appearances in the last four races, with Monaco’s P4 finish his best since 2022. Colapinto, meanwhile, has defied expectations by outqualifying Alonso in three of the last five races—a stat that stings given Alonso’s reputation as one of F1’s best qualifiers. The Alpine ultimatum forces Alonso’s hand. With his market value cratering and Aston Martin’s technical deficits persisting, the veteran’s leverage is evaporating. Briatore’s July 31 deadline isn’t just about Alpine’s future; it’s a pressure test for Alonso’s ability to right the ship before the market freezes for 2027. If Alonso can’t deliver at Silverstone or Hungary, the seat may already be spoken for. What’s next: Alpine will race in Austria with upgraded floor and rear wing. If Gasly and Colapinto deliver top-6 results, Briatore will treat the July 31 announcement as a formality. If Alonso suddenly turns around Aston Martin’s fortunes in the next four weeks, the deadline becomes a bargaining chip rather than a sentence. ## Why this matters The 2027 driver market just flipped into overdrive. Alpine’s late-July deadline turns Gasly and Colapinto into the safest bets unless Alonso rights Aston Martin’s sinking ship. For Alonso, every point he fails to score at Silverstone or Hungary is a point Briatore uses to justify keeping the current Alpine pair. The cost-cap squeeze means Alpine can’t afford to gamble on sentiment, while Aston Martin’s technical woes have made Alonso’s future a high-stakes gamble for both sides. ## Frequently asked ### When will Alpine finalize its 2027 driver lineup? Flavio Briatore told Italian media Alpine will decide by July 31, 2025, giving the team less than four weeks to lock in Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto or make a change. ### Why is Fernando Alonso’s future at Aston Martin in doubt? Aston Martin’s 2025 chassis and Mercedes engine have lagged behind rivals. Alonso’s qualifying deficits and race pace drops have fueled speculation he could be replaced by mid-season or for 2027. ### Who are Alpine’s current 2027 candidates? Pierre Gasly is the lead candidate after his strong early-2025 run. Franco Colapinto, the 2024 F2 champion, is the team’s reserve-turned-race driver and Briatore’s stated “next in line.” ### Has Alonso commented on his Aston Martin future? Alonso has not issued a direct statement. His team insists it is fully committed to him through 2026, but public frustration over car performance has amplified off-track rumors. ### What happens if Alonso leaves Aston Martin mid-season? Aston Martin would likely promote reserve driver Felipe Drugovich or pursue a short-term veteran like Stoffel Vandoorne while evaluating 2027 options under new technical leadership. ### How does Alpine’s cost cap affect its 2027 driver decisions? Alpine’s budget ceiling permits only one external driver signing. Locking in Gasly and Colapinto avoids costly late-season negotiations and keeps the team within financial guardrails for 2026 development. ## Sources & Citations - [Flavio Briatore, sobre el futuro de Fernando Alonso en Aston Martin F1: ¿Alpine?, habrá una decisión pronto"](https://www.caranddriver.com/es/formula-1/a71703925/flavio-briatore-futuro-fernando-alonso-aston-martin-f1-alpine-decision/) — NewsData.io (2026-06-24) --- Cite: Briatore’s July ultimatum: Alpine to pick 2027 lineup as Alonso’s Aston Martin stalls. Sportopod, 2026-06-30. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/flavio-briatore-sobre-el-futuro-de-fernando-alonso-en-aston-eb7b4f22