Flavio Briatore shuts down Mick Schumacher question

Flavio Briatore refused to answer if Mick Schumacher could make an F1 comeback with Alpine.

The Italian temporarily finds himself again at the helm of the Enstone squad after Oliver Oakes resigned as team principal last month.

Having rejoined as an executive advisor last year, Briatore is understood to have already been heavily involved - and influential - in a number of areas behind the scenes at Alpine, including its driver line up.

Indeed, finding a suitable partner for Pierre Gasly has been a defining issue for the team across this season, with Jack Doohan sidelined for Franco Colapinto after just six rounds.

However, the Argentine has thus far failed to impress. After crashing during qualifying at Imola, he has turned in two unremarkable weekends in Monaco and Spain, both short of the benchmark set by his team-mate.

This has re-opened the door to speculation over whether Colapinto himself will be replaced after the Austrian Grand Prix in two rounds' time.

The current situation surrounding the 21-year-old is hazy. The team initially announced he would have five rounds to impress before it made its next decision, the last of which is the weekend at the Red Bull Ring.

But Briatore insisted at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix that Colapinto will be given as long as he needs. He also set the former Williams driver three criteria to satisfy: Be fast, score points, and do not crash.

So far, he as only achieved the one he would have hoped to avoid, leaving himself in a precarious position amid considerable doubt over his long-term suitability.

Nonetheless, the aforementioned shortcomings have breathed new life into the rumour mill engulfing the second Alpine seat.

In addition to Doohan, reserve driver Paul Aron is an option, and Sergio Perez has been linked to the team, but Schumacher's name has also started to circulate.

When asked if the 2020 F2 champion could race for Alpine either this year or next, Briatore sidestepped the question.

"Well, I’m not sure why we’re talking about Schumacher now," he responded to media, including RacingNews365. "We are here in 2025. I don’t understand. What do you want to know?"

Christian Horner, who was sitting alongside in the FIA press conference, attempted to provide clarity, adding: "Are you going to sign Mick Schumacher?"

To which Briatore replied: "Yeah. Sure. Everybody said that. I don’t think it’s the question to ask here, now. Next question."

When the journalist reiterated the question, in a bid to establish an answer, the Italian said: "I don’t want to talk about that."

The article continues below. 

Mick Schumacher F1 options

The German has been trying to find a way back to a race seat since being dropped by Haas in favour of compatriot Nico Hulkenberg for the 2023 F1 season.

He dovetailed the Mercedes reserve driver role with competing for Alpine in WEC, before relinquishing the former position to focus more thoroughly on the latter, but the 26-year-old still harbours the desire to race in F1 again.

Overlooked for the seat Doohan initially took at Team Enstone, a Stake drive ahead of its transition into the works Audi team next year and not believed to be in serious contention for one of Cadillac's two seats, Schumacher's options appear thin.