Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo Remains Defiant Amid Alpine’s Poor Formula 1 Performance
In a recent interview with Autocar magazine, Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo assured that the Alpine Formula 1 squad is not up for sale, despite its disappointing performance this season. With only five points scored across the opening nine rounds, speculation has been rife that Renault might offload its F1 asset, with potential bidders like Andretti and Chinese auto giant Geely showing interest. However, de Meo has categorically ruled out selling Renault’s F1 team, stating, “> There is no way we are going to give up. It’s not my style. We will not sell even a part of this thing. We don’t need the money.”
De Meo’s comments contradict rumors circulating in the F1 paddock, with F1 reporter Joe Saward suggesting that the Renault CEO is looking to offload Alpine’s F1 power unit operation in Viry and instead seek a competitor to purchase power units from. This speculation seems to be unfounded, as de Meo remains committed to the team’s future success.
Alpine’s Struggles in Formula 1
Alpine’s struggles in Formula 1 are well-documented, particularly in the hybrid era, which began in 2014. The team’s lack of performance led to Red Bull’s departure for Honda and McLaren’s switch to Mercedes. De Meo acknowledges the shortcomings of Alpine’s power unit, stating, “> When we began the hybrid era, our engine didn’t perform. We had been world champions with Red Bull, but with hybrid, things went wrong.” He adds, “> Even the engine we developed in 2021 had a 0.2s to 0.5s disadvantage every lap. And this year we’ve screwed up with the car. If you combine everything, we’re up to 1.5s from where we need to be.”
Turning Alpine’s Fortunes Around
So, how does de Meo plan to turn Alpine’s fortunes around? He believes recruitment and mindset changes are key to improving the team’s performance. “The first is a quality team of top-notch people,” he said. “The second is racing rage, an obsession to win. The third is collaboration and trust throughout the team, a spirit of cooperation that makes things seem easier.” De Meo is confident that Alpine, backed by the Renault Group, has the potential to be a top team, but acknowledges that they need to work hard to achieve this goal.
With de Meo’s defiant stance on keeping Alpine’s F1 team, fans of Formula 1 news and enthusiasts of the sport can expect a renewed commitment to improving the team’s performance. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Alpine fares and whether de Meo’s vision for the team comes to fruition.
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