Renault CEO Slams Speculation: Alpine F1 is Here to Stay Despite Struggles

In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, rumors and speculations swirl as fast as the cars themselves. Recently, the buzz was all about Renault potentially selling off its underperforming Alpine F1 team. Despite a lackluster season where the A524 has only managed to snatch five points in nine rounds, Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has categorically stated that selling is not an option.

De Meo's strong words come in response to mounting pressures and a revolving door of senior personnel that have left the team in a precarious state. Potential buyers, including Andretti and Chinese auto giant Geely, have reportedly been waiting in the wings, fueling the speculation.

“I want to make this very clear,” de Meo told Autocar magazine. “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. I’ve had people making offers left and right, then talking in the press about it. But we’re not interested. It would be stupid, and I won’t do it.”

The Backstory: Struggles and Setbacks

The current plight of Alpine F1 can be traced back to its struggles in adapting to the hybrid era that began in 2014. Even though Renault-powered Red Bull achieved world championships, the switch to hybrid engines marked the beginning of woes for Alpine. Major partners like Red Bull and McLaren moved away, seeking more competitive and reliable power units.

F1 reporter Joe Saward has posited that de Meo is looking to offload Alpine's power unit operations, searching for an external provider instead. This sentiment is not unfounded, given Renault's long-standing struggles with engine performance. De Meo openly acknowledges these shortcomings, saying, “When we began the hybrid era, our engine didn’t perform. 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.”

The Plan Forward: A New Mindset

While acknowledging past mistakes, de Meo remains optimistic about Alpine's future. He outlines a multi-faceted approach aimed at turning the team’s fortunes around. “The first is a quality team of top-notch people. 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.”

This renewed focus comes with the acknowledgment that Alpine, backed by the formidable Renault Group, should be one of the strongest teams in F1. “I don’t think we deserve to be a top team at present, but we’re not in F1 to be tourists so we need to work hard. Sure, we’ve made mistakes. It happens. But I think we’re right to put F1 at the core of Alpine, and to paint the car blue to represent a distinctive automotive culture.”

For de Meo, Alpine holds a legacy intertwined with competition. “This brand is totally legitimate because it was always in competition. But it can do much better, and I don’t want to miss the opportunity.” With such renewed vigor and strategic planning, Alpine aims not just to participate but to win in the demanding world of Formula 1.