Pierre Gasly has called for unity within the Alpine Formula 1 team after Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo announced his resignation over the weekend.
The Italian, who took on the role in 2020, was instrumental in overseeing an upturn for the French brand, as well as the decision to bring the Alpine brand into Renault’s sport division and rename its F1 team as such.
But his departure leaves some question marks as to what will happen to the team and to its Executive Advisor, Flavio Briatore, with whom de Meo has a good relationship.
It is yet another facet to the saga that has continuously raged at Alpine in recent times, with the team looking for its fourth Team Principal in as many years, after Oliver Oakes’ resignation last month.
The team also endured a tough weekenbd at the Canadian Grand Prix, with both Gasly and Franco Colapinto finishing outside the top 10, losing ground in the midfield battle in the Constructors’ Championship.
Speaking after the race, Gasly conveyed his sadness at de Meo’s exit, and urged the team to focus on the “positives” as it approaches its first year without works team status.
“First of all, I think I need to have all the information,” he rold media including Motorsport Week. “I have a very good relationship with Luca, he was the one that took me into the team, and I think he’s a very inspiring person. So obviously, first reaction is that I’m very sad to see him leave.
“I’m sure he’s got some good reasons, and I think at the end, for us as a team – even though not everything is great at the moment – there’s still a lot of positives happening at the factory.
“And for me, it’s important that we keep that momentum going into ’26, because the picture and the performance could be very different. And we need to keep that in mind.”
Gasly to ‘sit down’ with Alpine hierarchy amid concerns
Gasly has taken on the role as de factor team leader, having been paired with Jack Doohan and latterly, Colapinto, as his team-mates..
And he seemed to act like one too after the race, particularly after revealing his desire to speak to the hierarchy to seek answers as to what happens next for the Enstone-based squad.
“Yes, I need to sit down with management and understand a bit more on what it means for the team, etc,” Gasly said..
“But at the end of the day, we all have our job, we all have our role, and we all need to focus on what we’ve got to do, and do it best. But, for sure I need to sit down with everyone.
“It’s completely normal, it’s completely human to feel that. And I think it’s important for all of us to stick as a team and stick together in these types of moments. And, you know, rely on each other and just trust the long game.”\
READ MORE – Renault CEO resignation sparks doubt on Alpine F1 project
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