Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore is not ruling out a scenario in which Mercedes move for four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen. He indicated Alpine would assess opportunities to sign a Mercedes driver if such a switch triggers changes at the Brackley team.
Mercedes currently fields Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, with both drivers contracted to the end of 2026. Although Toto Wolff has recently expressed satisfaction with that pairing, the prospect of Verstappen moving if he exits Red Bull remains in play.
It has been reported that Verstappen’s Red Bull Racing contract, which runs through 2028, includes an option to leave during the summer break if he is outside the top two in the standings. The Dutch driver is currently seventh.
Briatore told The Race: "We don't know what is going to happen with Mercedes. We don't know if Mercedes will pick up Max, or whatever. So let's see what we have in the house before we proceed."
Within Alpine, Briatore is working with Franco Colapinto—who recorded his best F1 finish of sixth in Canada—alongside regular driver Pierre Gasly. While pleased with the duo, he made clear the team will keep future options open.
Briatore praised Colapinto’s form, telling media: "Franco, honestly, I believe he has the talent to be one of the top drivers. "In Canada he's done a super job. On Friday he did not do FP1 because he had a problem with the battery. "Then he jumped in the car, qualified and got in the top 10. Stuff like this is not usual, not for a driver doing stuff like that. "For the moment, we have Gasly and we have Colapinto. For 2027, we have Gasly because we signed with him long term, and then we see. "I hope that Franco is doing a very good job from now until the end of the season to continue."
The remarks underline Alpine’s stance of prioritising evaluation of current drivers before committing to the 2027 lineup. Gasly is tied down on a long-term agreement that includes 2027, while Colapinto’s performances in the coming races will factor into any decision.
Should Mercedes pursue Verstappen, any resulting vacancy would likely reshape the market heading into 2027—an opportunity Briatore signalled he would be ready to consider. For now, he is watching how the championship picture evolves and how his own drivers develop.
What to watch next: Verstappen’s position in the standings through the summer break, Mercedes’ next steps with Antonelli and Russell, and Colapinto’s momentum as Alpine weighs its options alongside Gasly’s long-term deal.
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*Originally published on [News Formula One](https://newsformula.one/article/briatore-eyes-mercedes-shake-up-amid-verstappen-transfer-talk). Visit for full coverage.*