Noël Ummels believes Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly would be better off driving an Alpine A110, rather than the cumbersome vehicle they currently operate. His advice: just give it up.
Are you familiar with the Alpine A110? If not, imagine a stunning sports car from the 60s and 70s. I haven’t asked them, but I’m sure that Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly would prefer to be behind the wheel of an A110 rather than the Alpine A524. The A110 was given a modern makeover in the 2010s, which is also quite appealing and was intended to boost sales in line with the successes of the Formula 1 team. The only problem? Those successes are non-existent. No matter how hard Ocon and Gasly try, even if they’re at each other’s throats, Alpine only seems capable of negative publicity. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Renault, the owner, has now openly admitted that they can’t build a decent Formula 1 engine, considering the option to purchase from a rival from 2026 onwards.
Is the Incompetence That Severe?
No, the root cause is an organizational mess. As smoothly as the French football team operates, the French Formula 1 team is in chaos. This is mainly due to the interference of the corporate leadership. Anyone with a bit of understanding of the game knows: that’s disastrous. The only thing you should do as a business leader is to go all in and throw heaps of money at it, or pull the plug because you believe your hard-earned money could be better spent elsewhere. Anything in between is a misunderstanding, namely that normal business processes also apply in the highest class of motorsport.
Mercedes’ Success Lies in Trusting Toto Wolff
Until a few years ago, Dieter Zetsche, with his impressive moustache, was a frequent sight in the paddock. However, despite his vanity, he knew better than anyone that the running of the Mercedes team should be left entirely to Toto Wolff. His successor as Mercedes CEO, Ola Källenius, attends Grand Prix less frequently, but he also understands: either we do it well, or we don’t do it at all, the rest is in Toto’s hands.
Alpine’s Half-Hearted Approach Leads to Disappointment
Carlos Ghosn, who reluctantly engaged in Formula 1 with Renault, and his successor Luca de Meo, who believes that half-hearted efforts under the Alpine flag will suffice, do not share this approach. When results fail to materialize, they resort to the corporate tactic of firing the team boss or another key figure. This year, in particular, saw a flurry of dismissals, and key figures chose to abandon what they perceived as a sinking ship. In their place, an advisor is hired whose reputation and demeanor might as well have ‘untrustworthy character’ tattooed on his forehead.
In 2016, what was then known as Renault returned to Formula 1 with high ambitions: it aimed to compete for the title within five years. A realistic five-year plan, the only drawback being that investments lagged behind. After all, no one has ever become a world champion on a shoestring budget. Aston Martin, since its start in 2021, has adopted a similar five-year plan and is acting accordingly. No one would be surprised if it competes for the top prize from 2026 onwards. And despite all the vehement denials – ‘the team is NOT for sale’ – no one would be surprised if Renault wisely decides to sell the team to avoid the embarrassment of racing with someone else’s engine.
Have you spotted the classic A110? Strangely enough, it’s not easy to spot the new version on the streets.
