Flavio Briatore provides Alpine F1 driver update with Franco Colapinto under pressure

Flavio Briatore has confirmed that Franco Colapinto will be given time to prove himself despite an inauspicious start to his career. The Italian also used a press conference at the to provide an update on the team's search for a new team principal.

It has been a season of upheaval so far for Alpine, who sit ninth out of 10 teams in the constructors' championship. Jack Doohan lost his seat six races into the campaign, having failed to score a point, with Colapinto promoted to replace him.

And their team principal also moved on after the Miami Grand Prix when . But one constant is Briatore who continues to rule the midfield outfit with an iron fist, as he has since his return as a 'special adviser' to team owner Renault.

Despite being part of Doohan's personal management team, , keen to give Colapinto the chance to show what he can do. But the Argentine has struggled to make an impression in the two races since.

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Briatore is not renowned for his patience but is showing it to Colapinto, for now. Asked about the racer's situation, he said: "He's a very young driver. Last year he did very well, two races super with Williams, some other races not so super.

"I believe he's not completely relaxed at this moment – he needs to have more mileage. Franco, he is a good driver, he's very young. Let him have some time and see what happens. Let's see what happens this weekend. But, at the moment, we've given the chance to him and, for the moment, it is him driving the car."

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Briatore has taken full command of the team since the announcement of Oakes' departure earlier this month. But as he is not an F1 licence holder, he cannot be named as team principal with racing director Dave Greenwood the official team representative in the eyes of the FIA.

Not that it is affecting Briatore's work in any way. The Italian made as much clear as he shrugged off questions about Alpine's search for a new team principal, playing down its importance as he said it makes "zero difference" to him what title he has.

He said: "We are looking forward. For the moment nothing has changed. I feel sorry for Oli because I have a very good relationship with Oli. He was a good team principal. Like everybody knows, for personal reasons he stopped and resigned from Alpine.

"We are looking. We don't want to make any mistakes. I prefer to take some time. But in the moment we decide what will be the new team manager. Put it this way and we tell you."