Bruno Famin will step down as Team Principal of Alpine’s Formula 1 squad at the end of August to focus on the Renault Group’s activities at Viry-Chatillion.
Famin took on the role of Team Principal on an Interim basis after Otmar Szafnauer was let go after last year’s Belgian Grand Prix.
The Frenchman’s Team Principal duties became permanent at the start of the 2024 campaign in addition to his responsibilities leading the numerous power unit projects in Viry and as Vice President of Alpine Motorsport.
Now, a year on from Szafnauer’s departure, Alpine will once again look for a new Team Principal following its announcement at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.
Famin will return to fully overseeing matters at Viry, which include powering Alpine’s FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar project, a Dacia Dakar assault and collaborating with Nissan on its Formula E powertrain.
Moreover, Famin told the media including Motorsport Week during Friday’s team representative press conference at the Belgian Grand Prix that his stepping down as Team Principal will help focus on developing the Alpine sportscar brand at Viry, without the distraction of Formula 1 activities.
Famin noted that Alpine is slated to develop several new sportscar models and expand its presence internationally, a project that will require not only his focus but also the realignment of Viry’s employees, who have been presented with the project as an alternative to producing Formula 1 power units, amid speculation Alpine is poised to become a Mercedes PU customer.
“You know, for the last year, I’ve been doubling my activities with one, the VP motorsport role, where I am managing Viry-Chatillion with all the endurance, Dakar, Formula E projects that we are managing there, and on top of that, acting as the managing director of BWT Alpine F1 team,” Famin said.
“And considering the state of the new project [at Viry], I think it will be much more useful for the company to dedicate my time, to concentrate my time to the Viry activities.
“I will step down from the team principal role by the end of August, and be fully dedicated to the various activities [at Viry] from the 1st of September.”
Alpine will now look to appoint Famin’s successor before the end of August, a process that no doubt will be overseen by Reanult Group CEO Luca de Meo and Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore.
Without being probed on the matter during the press conference on Friday, but no doubt in response to speculation Briatore’s appointment could lead to Famin’s dismissal as Team Principal, the outgoing Alpine team boss said he has “no issue” with the enigmatic Italian.
“You know, we have a new executive advisor,” Famin said.
“I have no problem with Flavio, the little time we spend together, I have absolutely no issue, no problem.
“Everybody knows him, he has his own way, he has his own goal, I have no problem, but I think it will be clearer on that side if I step down from the Team Principal role at Alpine F1.”
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