Overview

• Speaking to ESPN, Briatore called the long-held label “rubbish” and said Alonso acts as a unifying teammate.
• He likened Alonso’s relentless approach to a “Rottweiler” who keeps pressure on the team despite an uncompetitive car.
• Alonso has not won a race since 2013 but remains the grid’s oldest driver with two championships and 32 victories.
• His contract runs through 2026, and he says retiring then would be unlikely if Aston Martin are still off the pace.
• Briatore’s rebuttal counters a reputation shaped by flashpoints including Alonso’s 2007 McLaren split and his 2015 “GP2 engine” remark about Honda.