Alpine Faces Uncertain Future as Renault CEO Departs

July 4th, 2025, 12:00 PM
Alpine Faces Uncertain Future as Renault CEO Departs
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In the midst of another disappointing season for Alpine, parent company Renault has bid farewell to CEO Luca de Meo. This is a significant loss for the team, as the Italian was closely involved with the Formula 1 operations. Looking ahead, major changes seem to be on the horizon in Enstone. It is already known that Alpine will become a customer team of Mercedes from 2026, but the Renault name may also return to Formula 1.

The current unrest within Alpine raises questions about the identity of the Formula 1 team. Since 2021, the racing team has been competing in Alpine colors, intended to promote Renault’s smaller sports brand globally. However, Renault has now announced that it intends to produce only electric cars under the Alpine name. This seems potentially at odds with the Formula 1 activities. Granted, new technical guidelines will come into effect from 2026, increasing the degree of electrification. Yet, at its core, the sport remains dependent on internal combustion engines.

Steve Nielsen

According to the French Auto Journal, there is increasing backstage talk of a return to Renault, as the team was previously known. The racing team last competed under that name between 2016 and 2020. The team was also known as Renault between 2002 and 2011 – during this period it won two world titles with Fernando Alonso.

In preparation for the new technical regulations and a possible name change, Alpine recently appointed British Steve Nielsen as team manager. Nielsen has previously worked in Enstone and is considered an experienced force within the sport.

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