Formula 1 Rumor: Steve Nielsen linked with top job at Alpine (2nd Update)

This rumor is upgraded to ‘fact’ today.  BWT Alpine Formula One Team announced today that Steve Nielsen will be joining the team as Managing Director.

Under the leadership of Flavio Briatore, Nielsen will oversee the day-to-day running of the team at Enstone, starting from 1st September ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

The appointment marks a return to the team for Nielsen, who is one of the most long-standing and well-respected figures in the sport and has previously spent multiple stints at Enstone for Benetton and Renault, most notably as Sporting Director during the 2005 and 2006 championship winning years.

Since then, Nielsen has worked at other teams and more recently has held roles at the FIA and Formula One, bringing with him a wealth of experience in managing teams and racing operations. Nielsen also played a pivotal role in the return to racing in 2020 during the global health pandemic.

A number of key hires have been recently made by BWT Alpine Formula One Team across the business, including Kris Midgley as Head of Aerodynamic Development, and Guy Martin as Global Marketing Director.

Midgley, who reports to Executive Technical Director David Sanchez, has previously worked at Enstone from 2007 to 2013, before moving to Ferrari where he worked as Principal Aerodynamicist. Midgley is another key hire for the team, bolstering the technical department ahead of the vast opportunities that present themselves for the new regulation era in 2026.

Martin joins the team from Visa, where he has been instrumental in driving the sponsorship and partnership strategy for the brand, leading on rights-holder negotiations, on-site activation and operations delivery, as well as commercialization for properties such as the Visa CashApp Racing Bulls Team, FIFA, the Olympic Games, NFL International, Disney, Africa Cup of Nations, and the FIA Formula E Championship.

In his previous role at Visa, Guy also introduced new entertainment verticals to the business such as music and gaming, to drive greater fan and customer engagement and to capture new audiences

(GMM) A lead candidate has dropped out of the running to become the full-time team principal at Alpine.

In the wake of Oliver Oakes’ sudden resignation, some had linked Red Bull’s long-time team boss Christian Horner with switches to either Ferrari or Alpine.

“It’s always flattering to be associated with other teams,” the Briton said. “But my commitment, 100 percent, is to Red Bull.

“It has always been and certainly will be for the long term.”

Another name linked to the Alpine top job, meanwhile, is Steve Nielsen, who knows Alpine’s acting defacto team boss Flavio Briatore well from their days at Renault.

Nielsen joined the FIA as sporting director in 2023 but resigned a year later, setting up a consultancy business that now works with F1 and related businesses.

The 60-year-old Briton was spotted in conversation with Briatore at the recent Spanish GP, where the latter Italian admitted he is “looking” for a full-time Alpine team boss.

A report at the specialist Japanese portal as-web.jp, however, says Briatore’s attempts to woo Nielsen have “failed”.

“Sources close to the team say Steve Nielsen has rejected Briatore’s offer, opting to continue in his role as an F1 consultant rather than return to the Enstone-based team where he was with for nearly a decade.”

The report added: “Sources close to Nielsen say he is settling in well with his new family and life in the south of France, and has no plans to return to the UK anytime soon.

“Nielsen has reportedly even been offered the job to work as team principal remotely from home and only travel with the team on grand prix weekends. But he knows that the role requires a 24-7 presence at the factory and on track, so Nielsen has chosen not to take up his former boss’ offer.”

When asked about the claims, Nielsen reportedly confirmed the news but added that is “always nice to be asked”.

The Japanese publication concluded by saying the new frontrunner is Alpine sporting director Julian Rouse, even though Briatore’s “still looking for someone with more F1 experience”.

(GMM) Two names have been mentioned amid speculation about Oliver Oakes’ full-time replacement at the Alpine F1 team.

Oakes suddenly resigned for unexplained personal reasons just over a month ago, with executive advisor Flavio Briatore taking over as the unofficial team boss.

75-year-old Briatore, however, admits that he doesn’t want to keep the job. In fact, he is not even a direct employee of Alpine or Renault, and therefore is only the official ‘team representative’ at grands prix.

“We’re looking,” said the Italian when asked if Oakes will be replaced.

“I feel sorry for Ollie, honestly, because I had a very good relationship with him. He was a good team principal. Everybody knows for personal reasons he stopped and resigned from Alpine.”

When asked again about the successor, Briatore repeated: “We’re looking. We don’t want to make any mistake. I’m prepared to take some time.

“But the moment we decide who is the new team manager, we’ll tell you.”

Fascinatingly, Red Bull’s Christian Horner – already linked with a potential move to Ferrari – has been mentioned as one candidate.

Horner was sitting next to Briatore when the former Renault boss was asked what qualities he’s looking for in the new Alpine team principal, and the Briton chimed in: “Cheap.”

“Cheap, no,” Briatore smiled. “Now we’re looking for somebody, there’s a lot of people it is possible to be doing this kind of job. I know a few people who want to be part of this new trip with Alpine.

“We’ll decide quick.”

Dutch reports suggest Horner has found himself disempowered at Red Bull in the wake of his personal scandal and leadership turmoil of 2024.

Another name linked with the role is Steve Nielsen, who knows Briatore well from their successful days at Renault. It is reported that the pair were spotted in conversation at the Spanish GP.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen responded with amusement to Briatore’s claim that he would ideally like “two Verstappens” at the wheel of the two Alpine cars.

“That will cost Alpine some money,” the quadruple world champion told Viaplay.