The A524 may not be at its best at the start of the 2024 season. Instead, the team plans on bringing mid-season upgrades to improve the car step by step. For Alpine, the name of the game is stability. They aim to provide the staff with a car that is stable enough to work on during weekends with non-limiting choices. Hence, they are focusing on mid-season improvements rather than featuring a strong car from the get-go.

| Alpine and Otro Capital have secured investments from renowned sports figures into their €200m fund.

The new strategic investors include NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, golfer Rory McIlroy, boxer Anthony Joshua, and footballer Trent Alexander-Arnold.

These… pic.twitter.com/Qf7WlEA79m

— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) October 17, 2023

Preparations for the new season are almost over for each team, and Alpine is no different. They saw a major reshuffling in their staff owing to the huge cash influx. A revamped management roster oversaw a significant change in the team’s philosophy. Instead of focusing on the long-term future, they chose to “fight for positions that matter in the next two years.”

Heavy investments shall play a pivotal role in the stark change in philosophy. Aside from Otro Capital and Co. chiming in with their funding, several others preceded them in investing in Alpine. RedBird Capital Partners, Maximum Effort Investments, and Ryan Reynolds also pitched in with investments. Together, they bought a 24% stake in the team.

Can Alpine improve its 2023 performance?

2023 saw Alpine lie in the middle of the ground, basically in a league of their own. The team scored 120 points and secured two podiums throughout 2023. Each of their drivers secured one podium, allowing their team to finish sixth in the constructors’ championship. No team below them managed to secure a podium finish. Furthermore, Alpine was comfortable in their position, given the next-best team was 92 points behind them. Aston Martin was fifth in the rankings, 160 points ahead of Alpine.

A524’s first outing pic.twitter.com/TFrEXvx8iV

— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) February 20, 2024

According to Pierre Gasly, last season’s Alpine car had a small operating window. He felt the car had much better balance at the start of the season than towards the end. Gasly conceded the overall potential of the car was nowhere near the top teams, and hence, it wasn’t easy to operate. Alpine’s Technical Director, Matt Harman, also admitted to them being “aerodynamically outgunned” by their opposition. He added they ran out of time to develop the RE22 power unit despite having the necessary tech.

The team is focused on not repeating these mistakes and taking full advantage of their management team. However, a question mark remains over their performances for the 2024 season.

The post Alpine F1 To Make Mid-Season Gamble With Star Money From Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and Ryan Reynolds on the Line appeared first on The SportsRush.

Officially labeled the ‘BWT Alpine F1 Team 2024 New Era Black Cap,’ the cap is available on Alpine’s online store. Fans can grab the hat for €46.00 ($49.57). However, the cap is currently on backorder and will take a minimum of 13 days to ship. Furthermore, the website assures users of a 24-hour delivery.

Alpine’s F1 team has seen an investment of €200m from some of the top sportsmen across the globe

Trent Alexander-Arnold
Anthony Joshua
‍ Rory McIlroy
Patrick Mahomes
Travis Kelce
Juan Mata

That’s some squad they’ve assembled pic.twitter.com/CqWvMziG5m

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) October 17, 2023

The Black Cap comes under the new line of merchandise for Alpine, following a stellar investment. Apart from Kelce and Mahomes, various other athletes are also part of the investment group. Rory McIlroy, Anthony Joshua, Trent Alexander Arnold, and Juan Mata are also in the mix. With the investment, Otro Capital became a part of Alpine’s premier investors alongside RedBird Capital Partners. Maximum Effort Investments, the Huntsman Family, and Main Street Advisors make the rest of the partners.

Otro Capital’s decision to include Kelce and Co. in their investment portfolio came from their drive for global awareness for Alpine F1. The portfolio will also help Otro Capital in contributing to areas such as marketing, ticketing, and merchandising.

Travis Kelce thrilled to be an investor in Alpine F1

Following his investment in Alpine’s F1 Venture, Kelce issued a statement explaining his excitement over the same. “I am thrilled to lead an investor group and join forces with Patrick [Mahomes] and the team at Otro Capital on this exciting venture with Alpine F1.” Kelce is an eight-time Pro Bowl and two-time Super Bowl winner and is also famously dating global pop icon, Taylor Swift.

Since Taylor Swift showed up to Sunday’s Chiefs-Bears game:
• 400% spike in Travis Kelce jersey sales
• Kelce’s podcast ranks #1 overall on Apple
• Kelce adds 383K Instagram followers
• 24.3M viewers watch, #1 game this week
• 63% jump in female viewers age 18-49
• 3x… pic.twitter.com/dEjuEBzVOB

— AimeeBill (@AimeeBill2023) February 4, 2024

The ‘Taylor Swift effect’ took shape in the NFL, with Kelce’s jerseys seeing a 400% increase in sales. The jump put him in the top 5 players in the NFL in terms of sales. Swift also tops the charts in the most-read entertainment topics. Meanwhile, Kelce ranks second on the list. As such, there is a strong belief that the duo might bring the ‘Taylor Swift effect’ to the paddock. Several high-profile athletes could frequent F1 races, especially when the sport reaches Las Vegas later this year.

The post Details of the F1-Themed Cap Travis Kelce Cops on the Latest New Heights Episode- And How You Can Get One Too appeared first on The SportsRush.

An effort toward the same was earlier made in 2019 with the ‘W series,’ which was an all-female racing series. British driver Jamie Chadwick won all three editions. However, a lack of sponsorship for the 2023 season meant the W Series wouldn’t continue.

Given the same, the F1 academy now stands as the only beacon of hope for female drivers looking to make it big in the sport. So far, only six drivers make up the Academy, and here are all of them.

Bianca Bustamante

18-year-old Bianca Bustamante is the newest member of the McLaren Driver Development Program and will race on the 2024 F1 Academy Grid with ART Grand Prix. She is the first and only female driver to join McLaren’s driver program.

In October, racing driver #BiancaBustamante (@Racerbia) was signed to the McLaren Driver Development Programme. Find out why the 18-year-old, who caught the eye of Vision Express and Anastasia Beverly Hills, is one of our #onestowatch: https://t.co/OKkec9Dtiw pic.twitter.com/oAGQ61t5L9

— Influencer Intelligence (@InfluencerIntel) January 12, 2024

While driving for PREMA Racing, the Filipina racer achieved a podium finish in her debut race in Spielberg. Furthermore, she also achieved a second-place finish and two race wins in her debut season.

Lia Block

In November 2023, Williams announced that American racer Lia Block would be representing their team on the 2024 F1 Academy Grid. The 17-year-old is already a big name in the world of motorsports, having competed in Rally, Extreme E, and Rallycross. She is also the youngest American Rally Association champion in history.

Lia And Lucy Keep Ken Block’s Racing Spirit Alive With Baja 1000 Victory. An impressive showing, especially for a team that raced the Baja 1000 for the first time. #motorsport #offroad #video Read: https://t.co/olPmm3CbWY pic.twitter.com/0MexchzvXn

— CarBuzz (@CarBuzzcom) January 15, 2024

Block will be transitioning to her first full season in open-wheel racing while driving for ART GP alongside Bustamante.

Tina Hausmann

The third driver on the 2024 Academy grid will be Aston Martin‘s Tina Hausmann. Driving for PREMA Racing, the 17-year-old Swiss racer began karting ten years ago.

BREAKING: Welcome to the paddock Tina Hausmann!

Tina signs with Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One® Team to join the F1 Academy grid in 2024. Hausmann will run the team’s livery while competing for PREMA Racing.#F1Academy pic.twitter.com/r7yvaURRGY

— F1 Academy (@f1academy) November 23, 2023

Graduating to single-seaters, she earned her first podium in her debut in the Formula Winter Series. Hausmann also claimed the overall win in the Italian F4 Championship (all-female category).

Abbi Pulling

The first returning driver on the 2024 Academy grid will be Alpine‘s Abbi Pulling, who drives for Rodin Carlin. She returns after a successful first season in 2023, where she finished fifth in the standings. Pulling recorded seven podiums, two poles, and four fastest laps in her last tenure with the team.

Abi Pulling roulera chez Carlin, aux couleurs d’Alpine pour la saison 2024 de F1 Academy !

(@f1academy) pic.twitter.com/grgctFMTjx

— Racing Club (@RacingClubMedia) December 11, 2023

Pulling debuted with Ginettas, where she finished 6th in the British F4 championship in 2020. The 20-year-old Briton became a full-time Alpine driver in 2023.

Carrie Schriener

Carry Schriener is another returning driver from the 2023 season. The 25-year-old will be a part of the Sauber Academy and will drive for Campos Racing in 2024.

The latest addition to the growing #F1Academy grid for 2024 is German Carrie Schreiner! https://t.co/3wp2pDIEZm

— Goodwood FOS (@fosgoodwood) January 13, 2024

Debuting in 2011, the German driver stands as the first and (so far) only female driver to win the X30 Junior Championship Title (2012). After Graduating to single-seaters in 2015, she switched to GT racing two years later. In 2018, Schriener secured the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Middle East Pro-Am class and the DMV Gran Turismo Touring Car Cup- Class 1 titles.

Doriane Pin

The sixth and final driver confirmed for the 2024 Academy Grid is Doriane Pin. The French driver is the latest addition to the Mercedes Junior Program and will receive support on the Academy grid from Iron Dames and PREMA Racing.

We’re excited to announce Iron Dame @DorianePin has joined our Junior Programme and will be representing us in @f1academy this year

The French driver will be racing with the support of the ground-breaking @IronDames_ project at @PREMA_Team

Find out more

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) January 16, 2024

Pin began karting in 2016 and won the French Championship in the female category in 2019. Two years later, she graduated to the Le Mans Cup and scored five podiums. The following year, she won the Ferrari Challenge Europe and the 24 Hours of Spa.

In 2023, Pin became to first woman to ever win the ‘Revelation of the Year’ award and finished second in the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship.

One team yet to name a driver for the 2024 F1 Academy Grid

While four of the five teams have named at least one driver for the upcoming season, Dutch team MP Motorsport is yet to announce a driver for the 2024 Academy Grid.

Given one team can have as many as three drivers representing them, the other four teams will also be scouting talent to bolster their attack.

The post Who is Racing For Susie Wolff’s Revolutionary F1 Academy in 2024? appeared first on The SportsRush.

Szafnauer was the team principal of Alpine when the incident first happened, and as such, he has first-hand information about the entire incident, which he shared with Peter Windsor while appearing as a guest in an interview on the latter’s official YouTube channel.

I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.

— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) August 2, 2022

Alpine spent a lot of money on Piastri, helping him develop and rise through the ranks. He won the F3 and F2 championships back to back, which made him one of the hottest prospects in the sport. He was Alpine’s reserve driver for 2022. As a result, Alpine felt that his public denial of signing a contract was nothing but betrayal.

The situation around Piastri’s addition to the F1 grid was a tumultuous one, with multiple parties weighing in with their opinions and stakes in the matter. F1’s Contract Recognition Board (CRB) eventually ruled in favor of Piastri and his manager, Mark Webber, after Alpine paid over $675k in legal fees to reach a desirable conclusion.

Speaking of the same, Szafnauer believes had the ruling taken place in an English court, the decision would have been different.

“Had we tested the contract in the English courts because it was governed by the English law, you know, the outcome would have been much different than the CRB.”

According to the court, Piastri was well within his rights to sign a driving contract with McLaren. Despite the shenanigans, the ex-Alpine boss held no grudges against the young driver and instead wished him the best of luck for his future in sport when concluding the segment in the interview. However, due to the financial losses incurred in the legal proceedings, and the amount of money invested in Piastri’s future, Alpine could surely, still be holding a grudge.

Oscar Piastri claimed a “lack of trust” led to him signing for McLaren

On July 4, 2022, Piastri signed an official contract with McLaren for the 2023 F1 season, bringing a twist to his F1 transfer saga. The Australian driver deemed “a complete breakdown in trust” led to him making the sudden move, replacing fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren.

Alpine originally had plans of having Piastri drive for Williams in 2023. As a result, after Fernando Alonso announced his departure, without any official contracts signed, the team announced that Piastri will be driving for them in 2023.

Oscar Piastri is seriously something special.

And people thought he would regret leaving #Alpine #F1 #Formula1 #McLaren #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/a0hEhB86zc

— McLaren F1 Updates (@TheMcLarenZone) October 7, 2023

During an interview, Piastri claimed the incident involving Alpine was a “bizarre and frankly upsetting episode.” He added McLaren was much more straightforward and keen to have him. Meanwhile, a lack of clarity at Alpine led to distrust between the two parties. As such, signing for McLaren felt like the best option for Piastri, given his future in the sport.

The post Alpine Has Not Moved on From Oscar Piastri’s Heavy $675K Betrayal appeared first on The SportsRush.

Reflecting on his significant investment in the rapidly growing sport in the United States, Travis Kelce shared his perspective on the New Heights podcast, shedding light on the motivations behind his substantial financial commitment.

Travis Kelce is Excited to be an F1 Investor 

Back in June, Otro Capital Group committed $212 million for a substantial 24 percent share in the French Alpine F1 team. The team currently features drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. Kelce expressed his excitement about working with the ‘world-class’ private equity firm, deeming it a dream come true.

During the podcast, when Jason Kelce broached the subject of Travis’s investment in Alpine, Travis couldn’t contain his excitement and enthusiastically exclaimed, “Yeah baby!! Let’s Go Alpine!!” His jubilant response reflected his enthusiasm for the investment.

“I had so much fu*cing fun that I’ve been itching at the bit to get to another race…I always wanted to get into sports, in terms of ownership, in terms of just having a piece of owning a team. I always had Cleveland Sports team in my mind when I thought about that…Finally an opportunity came up and we knew the right people. I am excited man! It is fun.”

Travis admitted that he wasn’t initially a die-hard Formula 1 fan, but his interest piqued after attending a race in Miami, two years ago. He found the experience so exhilarating that he’d been eager to attend another race. The vibrant atmosphere of F1 racing, with its parties and electric races, left a lasting impression on him.

Travis Gives Jason The Lowdown on F1

Jason, understandably, had a lot to catch up on and couldn’t help but ask Travis questions to help fill the gaps in his knowledge. He was curious about NASCAR, the Indianapolis 500, and Formula 1, seeking to understand more than just their visual differences and the locations of these races. 

BREAKING: A group of professional athletes have joined Otro Capital’s $218 million investment into the Alpine F1 team.

• Patrick Mahomes
• Travis Kelce
• Rory McIlroy
• Anthony Joshua
• Trent Alexander-Arnold
• Juan Mata

Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney are also involved pic.twitter.com/uCGy78ruLE

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) October 17, 2023

Travis further explained that Formula 1 tracks are expansive and shared details about the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 19, to be held at the Las Vegas Street Circuit. He vividly described the nighttime race through the Las Vegas strip, evoking memories of arcade racing games. 

Finally, the two talked about spectating at a Formula 1 race. Travis, drawing from his experience at the Miami GP two years ago, discussed options like bleachers and suites. Being relatively new to the field, Travis admitted his F1 knowledge was still growing.

The post “So Much F*cking Fun”: Travis Kelce Reveals What Exactly Prompted Him to Invest in Alpine F1 appeared first on The SportsRush.

Recently, stars such as Rory McIlroy, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Anthony Joshua have invested in the French F1 team, Alpine. As news of the latest investment group broke out, fans were quick to bring Fernando Alonso into the mix and talk about the dynamics between Alonso, Kelce, and Swift, if and when the three would face each other in the F1 paddock.

Fans wonder what the paddock would be like when Fernando Alonso faces Kelce and Swift

In April this year, rumors caught wind of an alleged affair going on between Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and global singing icon Taylor Swift. While no solid leads ever surfaced to either confirm or deny the same, the rumors stayed mere rumors. However, with news of Travis Kelce and Co. investing in Alpine ( via X), fans quickly took to social media to ‘foresee’ what the situation might be in the paddock when the trio come face to face.

Fernando Alonso when he sees Taylor with Travis Kelce in the paddock: pic.twitter.com/F94pxdv5kr

— day ! (@lanad3lday) October 17, 2023

taylor swift, are you ready?pic.twitter.com/3yMbaNyTPw https://t.co/O07YT1xpng

— clara (@leclercsletters) October 17, 2023

One fan remembered the ‘angry’ side of Alonso and believe there might be a showdown in the paddock soon.

Fernando Alonso when he sees Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce decked out in Alpine merch in the paddock https://t.co/a9l3yPdM1A pic.twitter.com/6bBY5eQ0rh

— Dan’s DRS Zone (@F1GuyDan) October 17, 2023

Some claimed the move felt like a personal attack on Alonso while others saw the funny side of things.

Travis Kelce dating Taylor Swift and buying Alpine seems like a personal attack on Fernando Alonso

— Justin Ong (aka JSON Derulooooo) (@justinongisrad) October 17, 2023

if Alonso was still in the team this would’ve been the funniest thing ever https://t.co/L28EYJTAIm

— emi (@maraneIlo) October 17, 2023

The alleged Alonso-Swift relationship even had everyone joining the bandwagon

When rumors of Alonso dating Swift reached an all-time high, the Aston Martin star took to TikTok to further tease his fans. The 42-year-old uploaded a 5-second video where he is sitting on a chair as Swift’s “Karma” played in the background. The video ended with him winking towards the camera. Furthermore, the caption on the video read, “Race Week Era,” which was a nod to Swift’s Eras Tour. A week later, Alonso uploaded a similar video with his alleged girlfriend’s ’22’ playing in the background.

Following the first video, the Azerbaijan GP took place, where Sky Sports F1’s David Croft could not hold himself back from taking a fun dig at Alonso. The commentator praised Alonso for a “Swift” drive in the Qualifying Session in Baku. Croft added, “He went 4th fastest as if he was driving a getaway car,” which was another reference to Taylor Swift, bearing her 2007 track of the same name in mind. Croft got in a good number of jibes before the day’s racing session came to an end.

The post Watching Travis Kelce Hold Hands With Taylor Swift in the F1 Paddock Could Cause Serious Heartbreak for Fernando Alonso, Fans Believe appeared first on The SportsRush.

Andretti has faced resistance from the rest of the team owners on the grid, especially because of the monetary aspect. As of now, a $200 million dilution fee is split ten ways, but they will have to split it eleven ways if Andretti were to enter the sport. As such, the retired racing driver called the other owners “greedy.” Andretti added another cause for concern for the other owners would be-  if his team were to enter the sport, there’s a good chance they would take all the American sponsors away, thus adding to owners’ monetary concerns.

Andretti on better terms with F1 teams

Andretti Global has been a prominent name in most forms of motorsports. The one where they have failed to make an impact has been F1, as they could not enter the grid despite trying multiple times. Now, partnered up with General Motors’ Cadillac, the team is making its final and biggest push in hopes of achieving the dream. After gaining support only from McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Alpine, Speed Sport reports water is under the bridge between Michael Andretti and the rest of the team owners, too.

“Zak has been great. He understands what it is going to do to help Formula One. He knows we are going to add to it. Alpine has been a great supporter, too. It’s not like we are getting 100 percent opposition from the current Formula One team owners.”

The American team has big plans for its future, and involvement in F1 is a vital part of those plans. All their motorsports ventures will soon be housed in a 600,000-square-foot facility in Fishers, Indiana. The facility is currently under construction as Michael Andretti looks to make a triumphant return to the sport in which he failed as a driver.

The American team might have to cough up over half a billion for an F1 entry

Having been denied by teams such as Sauber for a buyout, Andretti had no option but to push for a new team on the grid. Given the same, team bosses called for a 300% hike in the current anti-dilution fees, taking it up from $200 million to $600 million. Should the authorities accept the new suggestion, Andretti and Co. would have to pay $600 million just to enter the sport and then think about sustainability.

FIA Accepted Andretti F1 bid, three other teams rejected

As reported by https://t.co/jDDH4Kxh8M Andretti is reportedly the 1/4 team that FIA has accepted for the F1 bid
The Decision now rests with FOM (Liberty Media)#F1 #Formula1 #FIA #Andretti pic.twitter.com/UD49sNzunr

— Desi Racing Co. (@DesiRacingco) September 22, 2023

With such high entry fees, Red Bull might also have a decision to make. They have two teams on the grid and stand as having to pay $1.2 billion for them both to continue racing. As such, the Austrian team might see it fit to sell the lesser of the two teams in order to not spend a ridiculous amount only for an entry to the sport. Should there be a fee hike and subsequent talk of an AlphaTauri sale, there is a potential for another new team on the grid, much like Audi in 2026.

The post Andretti Warfare With “Greedy” F1 Team Owners All Water Under the Bridge as Allies Form Ahead of Grand Entry appeared first on The SportsRush.

At the beginning of the season, the French team had high hopes of battling it out for a top-three finish, but the unreliability of their car made it difficult for them to do so. The team soon saw the axing of top personnel in Otmar Szafnauer, Pat Fry, and Alan Permaine, putting them under the radar. Perhaps the only positive to come out of the season for Alpine has been that each of their drivers has had a podium finish.

Still, many problems persist within the French outfit, and the recent investment by Reynolds and Co. has a lot riding on it, much like it did with Wrexham AFC.

Ryan Reynolds and Co.’s investment questioned

Voicing the thoughts of every Alpine fan, Saunders said there were high hopes of a ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ -like situation developing in Alpine. However, the reality couldn’t be more different. There have been no changes within the team, and the new investors are yet to show their support. Even though the Hollywood celebs are a small part of the investment group, their presence could mean a lot to the team.

| Renault Group has announced Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments will take a 24% equity stake in Alpine Racing, investing €200m.

MEI includes Ryan Reynolds, Michael B. Jordan and Rob McElhenney.

Renault says the move values Alpine F1 at…

— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) June 26, 2023

Saunders elaborated he has also asked Alpine about the implications of the investment and what it means to them tangibly. “Really, for them, it’s just bolstering the whole operation,” was the explanation he gave. The added value to their net worth will act as a morale boost moving forward, especially at a time when everyone is questioning what is going on within the team.

There are chances of more involvement from the latest investors when F1 makes its US stops in Austin and Las Vegas. Should the group make an appearance at one of the races, the most interesting thing will be to hear about their vision for the team. Whether they are there to only enjoy the sport or will they continue investing in the team and hope to change them for the better.

Reynolds criticized for investing in Alpine

Renowned F1 figure and former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan recently slammed Ryan Reynolds and his consort over their investment in Alpine. The Englishman said he found it very strange that a team’s value is at $891 million. He added it makes no financial sense to invest so much money in a business model that does not hold up. Jordan also pointed out it was an excessive amount to pay to a team that pales compared to the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull.

Constructor’s Championship Standings after Italian GP 2023

1. Red Bull – 583
2. Mercedes – 273
3. Ferrari – 228
4. Aston Martin – 217
5. McLaren – 115
6. Alpine – 73
7. Williams – 21
8. Haas – 11
9. Alfa Romeo – 10
10. Alpha Tauri – 3#F1 #ItalianGrandPrix pic.twitter.com/ZXYSqXPyCb

— FirstSportz F1 (@FirstsportzF1) September 3, 2023

Since joining the F1 grid in 2021, Alpine has won only one Grand Prix and has always been a strong mid-table team. The team from Enstone currently sits in sixth place in the constructor’s championship with 73 points and two podium finishes. They are 42 points away from fifth-placed McLaren and 155 points away from third-placed Mercedes.

The post Ryan Reynolds and Co. Questioned Over Silence After Bringing $218,000,000 ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ Like Dream to Alpine F1 appeared first on The SportsRush.

When the season began, Alpine introduced an impressive car in the A523. They had high hopes of being able to challenge for race wins and rise through the grid, but the reality couldn’t be more different. Following a string of underwhelming performances, the team saw the axing of Otmar Szafnauer, Alan Permane, and Pat Fry. With Bruno Famin at the helm of the French team for now, the belief within the F1 world was that the team would soon be up for sale.

De Meo says Alpine is not up for sale any time soon

With an influx of over $215 million, Alpine’s net worth now exceeds $1,400,000,000. Following the rise in their net worth, the dramatic reshuffling of the hierarchy within the team left everyone wondering what the future held in store. The most popular theory, amongst a myriad of them, was the team being up for grabs soon, given the F1 grid will see a makeover in the coming years. However, De Meo rubbished all such claims, saying they are currently in recovery mode.

“We have to do a piece-by-piece recovery job. And all those stories that I would like to sell the team are bullsh*t!”

De Meo also addressed the axing of the team’s former top brass and said it was a measure they brought on themselves. He said the team promised him things they could not keep. “When you tell your boss something, then you have to do it,” added the Italian. The 56-year-old also mentioned his team did not have the right trajectory as they are well behind the goals they set in the season’s beginning.

Not an optimum season so far

Having finished fourth in the constructor’s championship last season, the French outfit had high hopes coming into the 2023 season. With a strong car and capable drivers, Alpine looked to make it into the top three while also registering consistent wins throughout the season. Instead, they currently see themselves poised sixth with 73 points and two podiums.

F1 2023 Constructor Standings – After Monza
Is Ferrari going to catch Mercedes? #F12023 #F1 #Formula1 #MonzaGP #ConstructorStandings #Racing #Motorsport #GrandPrix #TeamStandings #Monza pic.twitter.com/HFNuqzE8oa

— Corrado (@corradobag) September 5, 2023

Their drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, stand tenth and eleventh in the driver’s standings with 37 and 36 points, respectively. Each driver has earned one podium this season, but that has been the only highlight for the team so far. Going into the back end of the season, Alpine lies 155 points away from a top-three position and doesn’t look like an outfit that will cover up the margin with eight races to go.

The post After Massive Investment Boosts Alpine’s Worth to $1,400,000,000, Team Boss Snubs Rumors of Sale appeared first on The SportsRush.

Alpine F1 Team will test four drivers who are in contention to drive for the team in the 2023 season. The drivers rumored to be taking part in the test are Nyck de Vries, Jack Doohan, Colton Herta, and Mick Schumacher. The test will take place at the Hungaroring right before the Singapore Grand Prix and involves driving the 2021 Alpine A521.

Alpine have been left with a vacant seat in their ranks after Fernando Alonso decided to join Aston Martin and Oscar Piastri joining McLaren. Pierre Gasly was strongly linked to the team in recent weeks, but said rumors have died down. The team are now going through an extensive recruitment process to finalize their driver line up for 2023.

Nyck De Vries find himself with the opportunity after an impressive debut to finish in the points at Monza. De Vries replaced Alex Albon at Williams. It must be noted that the Dutchman is also linked to replace Nicholas Latifi at Williams. Jack Doohan also finds himself with a great opportunity with the Aussie currently P4 in the F2 championship.

Mick Schumacher also might be without a drive after his contract with Haas ends next season.  Colton Herta has also been linked with host of F1 teams with Alpine being the latest.

They just need to make a show out of this whole process y’know. You know it makes sense @AlpineF1Team https://t.co/ioUKQJ8bhW pic.twitter.com/E0lpXBkMKW

— Tommo (@TwommoF1) September 14, 2022

Also Read: Lando Norris thinks $430 Million team have done a pretty bad job in 2022 season

Alpine Test was originally meant for Oscar Piastri

Alpine’s test at the Hungaroring with the A521 was originally meant for Oscar Piastri. Piastri was expected to take the seat after Fernando Alonso decided to switch to Aston Martin. The Aussie decided to instead take up a seat at McLaren for 2023.

I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.

— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) August 2, 2022

The McLaren seat opened up after the seat was vacated by Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo’s $15 million a year contract was paid off in order to make way for Piastri.

Also Read: Nico Hulkenberg all set to replace Mick Schumacher at this $1 Billion net worth of team for the 2023 season?

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