It's certainly not an easy period that Alpine is going through. In 2022 the French team lost both Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri, perhaps warned of the terrible decline that would occur shortly thereafter. The situation has worsened year after year. But never like this year has the team had to face such a difficult start. After the first four races there are three teams at the end of the standings, with zero points. One of these is Alpine, far not only from the podium, but even from the points zone, a minimum objective for a team of such importance. In such a situation it is difficult to think that Alpine will have a long life in Formula 1. Therefore this morning some rumors emerged regarding the possible sale of the team, something that Alpine itself denied through a press release a few hours later.
Alpine denies the sale
Another parade of shame arrived for the team in Suzuka. The two drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, were unable to defend themselves from the attack of the other cars. Without Sargeant's mistake at the end they would have finished in the last two positions just ahead of the retirees. This dark period seems to have no end, and this, according to what was reported by Motorsport.com, suggests the possibility of a sale by the Renault Group. A disaster announced by the many farewells that the team has had to suffer in recent years, starting with that of Fernando Alonso, followed by the rejection of Oscar Piastri who fled the competition, in McLaren. Shortly before the summer break, team principal Otmar Szafnauer also parted ways with Enstone, as did CEO Laurent Rossi. Even in the technical sector there have been some resignation just as important as those of Alan Permane and Pat Fry. Results like this are not only bad for the team but for the entire group which suffers, even in terms of image of this collapse.
However, Alpine has categorically denied rumors of a possible sale, clarifying: “Rumors and stories about the team being sold are false. The team is not for sale, this is categorical".
Source statements: PlanetF1
