Luca de Meo has resigned as CEO of the Renault Group, a development which could spark doubts about the future of the Alpine Formula 1 team.
The Italian, who took up the post in 2020, oversaw a positive change for the company, which he described at the time of its commencement as a “Renaulution”.
Part of this plan was introducing the Alpine car brand into the Renault Sport division, which in turn saw the birth of its F1 team, being renamed from the previous incarnation of the Renault team.
Included in this plan was the renaming of Renault’s Viry-Chatilon engine HQ as Alpine’s too, and in 2021, the culmination of its work was reached with Esteban Ocon taking victory in that year’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
However, it has been far from plain sailing for the team, with a number of Team Principals having come and gone, the latest being Oliver Oakes, who quit for personal reasons back in May.
“Luca de Meo has expressed his decision to step down in order to take on new challenges outside the automotive sector,” an Alpine statement read.
“For five years, Luca de Meo has worked to put Renault Group back where it belongs,” added Jean-Dominique Senard, chairman of the Renault Group board of directors.
“Under his leadership, our company has returned to a sound footing, with a magnificent product range and a return to growth. As well as being an exceptional captain of industry, Luca de Meo is also a creative, committed and passionate man.
“Today, the whole company joins me in thanking him for all these years and all the collective challenges he has successfully met. On a personal level, I will always remember the quality of our relationship during this adventure, which will remain unforgettable.
“It also gives me the opportunity to warmly thank the Group’s employees who have worked alongside us to turn around this emblematic company of which we are so proud.”
What does de Meo’s resignation mean for Alpine and Briatore?
Renault’s statement also said that it will begin the search for a new CEO “based on the already defined succession plan”.
It leaves a myriad of questions around the future of the team, and the future of its Executive Advisor and interim Team Principal Flavio Briatore.
Briatore’s return to F1 was initiated by de Meo, and together, the pair took the decision for the company to rid itself of the Viry base, and in doing so, allow Alpine to forego its manufacturer status.
From 2026, the team will be a customer of Mercedes powertrains, which follows a series of cost-cutting measures that Briatore was given the green light to do.
When asked about the news, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff conveyed his sadness at de Meo’s departure.
“Yeah, I’ve just heard it in the race,” Wolff told media including Motorsport Week. “Luca de Meo is a friend, someone that I respect very much, turned around Renault, I don’t know what his future holds, but whoever gets Luca can deem themselves luck.”
There is no doubt that de Meo has made the company far more profitable, and therefore enbling it to be sold for a good price, something that would become harder if the team continues to score poorly in the sport.
And given his closeness with fellow Italian Briatore, it now casts doubt on his future with the team.
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