Alpine's Formula One problems start at the top

"I want them [Alpine] to be fourth [in the F1 standings]," Rossi told ESPN. "If they don't, it's going to be a failure. If they fail by giving 500% best and turning this ship around, there will be extenuating circumstances and it bodes well for the future. If not, it's the rule of business, there's going to be consequences. And I won't wait until the end of the year.

"The trajectory is not good. We need to fix the mindset of the team ASAP."

The problem is that the trajectory is good. Alpine's impressive finish in Miami came after similarly positive signs in Saudi Arabia and Melbourne. While the team certainly struggled during Week 4 in Baku, the Alpine car was never expected to excel there. 

Rossi's use of "they" in these quotes is telling. He's the CEO of Alpine Racing but believes himself to be removed from their foibles. 

"Rossi's desire is to be alone, to not be polluted by anyone," racing legend Alain Prost once said. "He told me he no longer needed advice."

But if Alpine does need a mindset shift, it's clear that shift needs to start with Rossi. 

Team principal Otmar Szafnauer hasn't been in the job long enough to have a serious impact; neither has newly recruited French driver Pierre Gasly. 

The two of them, along with long-serving driver Esteban Ocon, are having a great time together, and their partnership appears to be surprisingly healthy.

In fact, Rossi's biggest issue doesn't seem to stem from Alpine at all. He's frustrated by the meteoric rise of his competitors at Aston Martin--and honestly, so is everyone else in the F1 paddock. But Rossi cannot control or influence what happens at Aston Martin. He can only effect change at Alpine.

By threatening nonspecific "consequences" when the team is performing well, he shows that he doesn't know how to do that with any real tact.

Alpine doesn't need the mindset shift. Rossi does.