Renault Top Boss Dismissed Cyril Abiteboul As Part of ‘Sudden Change’ Before Alpine F1 Rebrand: Reports

Things are taking fresh turns at the newly rebranded Alpine F1 team these days. With the drivers’ lineup in place and new Renault CEO Luca de Meo taking charge, it was possibly time for changes in management personnel as well.

The F1 community heard the news of Laurent Rossi coming in, who might head the Alpine F1 project as CEO. Shortly after, Suzuki Ecstar team boss Davide Brivio got appointed and could take up the team principal role.

Following these changes, the official announcement of now ex-boss Cyril Abiteboul also came along. Now, according to a report by Spanish newspaper MARCA, there was a specific reason de Meo made these appointments.

The appointments are ‘pillars’ of the new Alpine project by Renault CEO De Meo

The report by MARCA states, “Both appointments, as MARCA has learned, are the exclusive decision of De Meo, as the two pillars of the new project, the people who have their total confidence to run the ship: Rossi in the economic part and Brivio in the Racing part.” (translated via Google Translate)

“The rest of the organization chart is still unknown, as both will have the power to reorganize as they wish the staff of the new team, based in Enstone (Chassis) and Viry-Chatillon (engines).”

Both Rossi and Brivio come with reputations of their own in motorsport racing. Slowly but steadily, then, Alpine are looking to rebuild the team that now enters a new era in Formula 1.

The report continues and says, “De Meo was this summer in several World Cup appointments and after studying the way in which the F1 team worked, he decided to make a sudden change, in a division that he considers strategic for the future of the brand and to relaunch the sales of the Renault Group throughout the world.”

Alpine F1 would want to better their numbers from the 2020 F1 season

Renault finished fifth in the Constructors’ standings despite their best efforts on track. Racing Point and McLaren looked faster overall compared to the French team in 2020. Naturally, the spike in competitive levels is something De Meo possibly wants in 2021.

With new cogs in the Alpine wheel, the important aspect is to make all the operations come together. The team will hence take a new direction, hoping it works out for the best.