31/07/2025 20:30
The new Renault group CEO, Francois Provost, has confirmed Alpine
will remain in F1, putting pay to any uncertainty surrounding the
French team. Since former CEO Luca de Meo resigned in June, there
have been suggestions that the car giant could pull the plug on its
F1 project and sell Team Enstone, having already surrendered its
works status. Last year, it confirmed it would become a power unit
customer for the F1 regulations overhaul in 2026, striking a deal
with Mercedes soon after. It was a highly unusual step, but the
French squad felt it best-positioned the team to be competitive in
the new rules era, having languished in the midfield since Fernando
Alonso helped carry it to titles in the mid-2000s. The retreat in
its operations was the nexus of the speculation that it could opt
to walk away from F1 entirely, but Provost, in his first remarks
since being announced CEO, confirmed that would not be the case.
According to Autocar , speaking at a press conference about
Renault's H1 results for 2025, he expressed his commitment to
keeping Alpine in F1. It provides security and stability for a team
that has undergone significant change in recent years. Aside from
its rebranding for 2021, there have been numerous high-profile
appointees and departures, including multiple team principals. Last
season, Flavio Briatore - who led the team during its two eras of
success, as Benetton in the 1990s and then as Renault in the 2000s
after the French marque purchased it - returned to the fold. When
Oli Oakes resigned earlier in the current campaign, the flamboyant
Italian became de facto team principal. He will now report to
Provost, with Alpine rooted to the foot of the F1 constructors'
standings on 20 points from 13 rounds. Haas, in ninth, has scored
35.
