They’re not. Briatore’s pitch to Alpine/Renault leadership is “you need the team for marketing purposes, but the own engine development at Viry actively hinders your goals and you should purchase Merc engines instead”.
Despite the jokes they seriously won’t. Their 2016 investment keeps ballooning past $1 billion in value, and most of their marketing rests on F1, because exposure > sporting results.
How long until Alpine sells their team?
They’re not. Briatore’s pitch to Alpine/Renault leadership is “you need the team for marketing purposes, but the own engine development at Viry actively hinders your goals and you should purchase Merc engines instead”.
Despite the jokes they seriously won’t. Their 2016 investment keeps ballooning past $1 billion in value, and most of their marketing rests on F1, because exposure > sporting results.
Not until they have gone through another 100 races plan.