Carlos Sainz's next move in Formula 1 should be confirmed "in the next few days," says Alpine's new executive advisor, Flavio Briatore.
Until recently, the departing Ferrari driver's primary options for 2025 and beyond seemed limited to Audi-owned Sauber or Williams, both offering long-term contracts.
However, with 74-year-old Briatore returning to the UK-based team he previously led to world championship success with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, it is believed he is proposing a flexible one-year deal to Sainz.
"It's incredible that a driver like that is still free," Briatore told Italian radio Rai.
"There is a lot of interest, although at the moment for Alpine the driver does not make the difference. First, we have to fix the car, but we are all willing to have him in the team and we will do everything we can for that.
"We'll see in the next few days," the Italian added, also telling the Swiss newspaper Blick: "The results of the other two options Carlos has only speaks in our favour."
Briatore dismissed the possibility of reuniting the Enstone-based team with Fernando Alonso, whose racing career he continues to manage.
"No," Briatore said. "He's in Aston Martin, which has made a lot of mistakes despite the investments made by Lawrence Stroll.
At Alpine, we already take points from them almost every Sunday now just because Aston Martin is not in the position they should be in."
Briatore also commented on McLaren, which now appears to be Red Bull and Max Verstappen's only real competitor for the 2024 world championships this year.
"They have improved," he said, "but they weren't bad last year either.
This year they have thrown away two races due to the lack of experience of their young drivers.
"In my opinion, they are at the level of Red Bull already, while unfortunately I think Ferrari is the fourth force."
