Renault’s Alpine Formula 1 team is not for sale, despite a rocky start to the 2024 season and an array of offers. CEO Luca de Meo has made it clear: they’re sticking with Alpine.
The Enstone-based Alpine squad has faced a tough beginning to the 2024 season, with their A524 car lagging at the back of the grid and only scoring two points so far. This poor performance has fueled speculation that Renault might want to sell the team. However, Luca de Meo, Renault Group’s CEO, has firmly dismissed these rumors.
De Meo revealed that there have been numerous offers for the team, mentioning organizations such as Andretti and rumors about China’s Geely company. Nevertheless, he is steadfast about keeping Alpine. ‘I want to make this very clear. 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,’ he stated in an interview with Autocar magazine.
Acknowledging the team’s current struggles, de Meo pointed to a combination of engine and chassis issues that have hampered performance. ‘When we began the hybrid era [in 2014], our engine didn’t perform,’ he explained. ‘We had been world champions with Red Bull but with hybrid, things went wrong. 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.’
Despite these setbacks, de Meo emphasized that the team is committed to moving forward. He described three key elements essential for improvement: a quality team of top-notch people, an obsession to win, and collaboration and trust throughout the team. ‘Alpine should be one of the teams in F1 with the broadest shoulders, because it has the backing of the Renault Group.’
He admitted that Alpine doesn’t currently deserve to be a top team but stressed the importance of hard work and the team’s dedication to Formula 1. ‘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. 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,’ de Meo concluded.
While Alpine’s start to the season has been far from ideal, Renault’s top brass remains committed to turning things around. It’s clear that, for now, Alpine will remain under Renault’s stewardship as they aim to climb back up the Formula 1 ranks.
Source: Motorsport
