We sat down with Alessandro Alunni Bravi, managing director and crew consultant of Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake, to speak about his spectacular profession path, Formula 1, Audi and driver administration. Alessandro studied regulation and began his profession as a motorsport journalist.
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You realized regulation on the college however rapidly began to work in motorsports. Were you all the time serious about racing?
I’ve had a ardour for motorsports since a really younger age. I used to be born in a bit village in Central Italy. It was the place the place the Coloni F1 Team had their base. I used to be lucky sufficient to be so near a Formula 1 crew. Furthermore, there was a racetrack close by the place they hosted worldwide races like Formula 3000, which was very fashionable again within the 80s, so I’ve all the time been passionate. I additionally raced myself after I was round 18 years previous. Eventually, I attempted to mix motorsports with my career, which is being a lawyer.
I began to work with completely different groups and drivers, caring for their pursuits when it comes to contracts. In the early 2000s, I began working with Andrea Dovizioso, who wanted an Italian lawyer to handle sure gadgets in his contract. It’s been an extended journey, and I made it step-by-step. I used to be working as a crew principal in GP2, and I used to be additionally coping with driver administration. I labored with a number of individuals round motorsports, which has made me who I’m at the moment. Actually, I’m getting previous! (Laughs)
You began your profession as a motorsport journalist; why did you select journalism?
It was a method to pay the college charge and begin my profession. Journaling has all the time been my ardour, and I like literature. I started working for Autosprint, an Italian weekly journal, and I used to be their Formula 1 journalist for 3 years. It was a pleasing expertise, permitting me to get near this enterprise and get in contact with drivers and groups. I may introduce myself as a lawyer. It was a pivotal step to unlock additional alternatives in my profession.
You additionally had some jobs within the rally – do you even have a ardour for rally racing?
Yes, I had the prospect to work because the Organiser and Promoter of the Cagliari Grand Prix and Rally Italia Sardinia. I’ve by no means seen a rally occasion earlier than. I went there with little information about it, and we reworked rally racing into an occasion. We created one thing distinctive with our companions. It was a pleasing expertise for me to supervise an occasion like this.
I all the time begin working early within the morning and solely end after 11 pm.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi
You typically had parallel jobs throughout your profession; how would you describe your character? Are you a hard-working particular person?
Yes, I’m. Honestly, it’s all the time troublesome to talk about your self as a result of I don’t wish to look smug, however I’m a workaholic. I all the time begin working early within the morning and solely end after 11 pm. I like my job, and it’s my ardour. I all the time attempt to ship the absolute best outcome. At the second, I’m solely centered on the Formula 1 crew; I finished coping with driver’s administration, so the scenario has modified, however not the working hours. The problem is big, and expectations are additionally very excessive.
How are you able to deal with the stress that you’ve got day by day?
Pressure is crucial. We can’t stay with out stress. If you wish to work in Formula 1, it’s worthwhile to deal with it and settle for that you just’re all the time beneath stress and should ship extra every day. You can solely do effectively on this enterprise in case you have this type of angle and adrenaline. It’s a extremely demanding sport; you should carry out over 100%. I’m fuelled by stress.
If you needed to decide one interval of your profession, which one could be essentially the most thrilling?
I all the time take pleasure in issues that may occur sooner or later. Of course, there have been some vital moments for me. The most pleasant moments had been all the time the primary instances. The first time I attended a grand prix as a journalist was the primary time I labored within the rally championship or my first day at Sauber.
I’m fuelled by stress.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi
You labored for All Road Management and later based your individual administration firm. When did you determine to have your individual firm?
I had a beautiful time with Nicholas Todt, and I’ve been studying lots from him. After six years of working collectively, I made a decision to proceed with my very own administration firm. I used to be 42, getting previous, and I took a threat to start out this enterprise.
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Stoffel Vandoorne was the primary driver I started to work with, after which I labored with Robert Kubica, and I took the problem to convey him again to Formula 1. We succeeded due to his expertise and dedication. I additionally labored with Christian Lungaard, who was a karting diver at the moment. I supported him by means of the best way to IndyCar. I made a decision to start out my very own firm to enhance my private abilities. And once more, I’m very grateful for Nicholas; it was a pleasure working with him.
Could you elaborate on Trusted Management, your individual administration firm? Did you lead the corporate alone?
Yes, I used to be all the time alone on the firm. I’ve by no means had any workers or a crew behind me. Obviously, I needed to cease this exercise final 12 months to concentrate on my Managing Director and Team Representative position at Alfa Romeo.
You had been appointed as a crew consultant of the crew. Is the organizational construction similar to different groups on the grid?
The construction is much like another crew. Formula 1 is so complicated that it has its personal construction, and it’s not potential for one particular person to deal with some long-term initiatives. I consider our construction is the best way to go, and you may see this pattern in different groups. Most of them enlarged equally.
I’m working with a proficient group of individuals on the manufacturing unit and on monitor. For occasion, we’ve received Xevi Pujolar right here on the race weekends, who’s answerable for the technical aspect of issues from the engineering viewpoint. I’d additionally spotlight Beat Zehnder, who has been working for the crew for greater than 35 years and is our sporting director. As for me, I characterize the crew to the FIA to the business rights holder, and I’m caring for companions and sponsors. Moreover, I handle the monitor operations and guarantee we work collectively.
The preparation course of for 2026 has already began, and it runs in parallel with our every day operations.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi
We know that Sauber will turn into the Audi Works F1 crew in 2026; how is the preparation for that period?
As Formula 1 will introduce new laws in 2026, there’s a lot work forward of us – similar to another crew on the grid. We’ll turn into a works crew with one of many largest automobile producers on this planet. The preparation course of for 2026 has already began, and it runs in parallel with our every day operations. Our CEO, Andreas Seidl, works with me and the management crew. Everyone within the crew should perceive that we’re constructing our future now. We concentrate on one thing apart from 2026; we’re solely centered on this season and the races forward. In phrases of outcomes, we anticipated to be in a greater place. We’re working collectively in direction of one purpose to cut back the hole, and I’m satisfied we’ll enhance all through the season. We should deal with our weaknesses and enhance automobile efficiency to turn into extra aggressive. This is the easiest way to organize and prepare for 2026.
Considering the F1 growth, is it top-of-the-line platforms for advertisers and buyers?
There has by no means been a greater second than it’s now. Formula 1 is rising quickly and has turn into an actual world leisure present. The viewers is huge, however we’re on the proper trajectory. The sport has all the time been a pillar of expertise, and it’s changing into extra related to the automotive business. With the introduction of 100% sustainable gasoline as of 2026, the brand new laws emphasize electrical energy, so the game is a pure experimental laboratory for the automotive business. Formula 1 will turn into a sustainable occasion; carbon net-zero by 2030 is a vital goal, and we’ve got initiatives to turn into sustainable in all areas of our enterprise. All in all, we’re not solely specializing in the expertise however on the sustainability aspect of issues as effectively.
