Boss gone as iconic F1 team name vanishes

Renault F1 staff principal Cyril Abiteboul is leaving his job because the staff rebrands as Alpine for this season.

Abiteboul has headed the Renault outfit because it rejoined the grid 5 years in the past. It was thought that he would proceed below the brand new Alpine title however he has left the corporate utterly.

The Frenchman was credited as a significant component in luring Daniel Ricciardo to Renault for the previous two seasons, then signing twin world champion Fernando Alonso because the Aussie’s alternative after he defected to McLaren.

Renault completed fifth within the constructors’ standings for the previous two seasons, albeit with stronger outcomes final yr.

“I want to thank the Groupe Renault for having trusted me for a few years, significantly with the relaunch and reconstruction of the staff since 2016,” Abiteboul mentioned in an announcement.

“The strong foundations of the racing staff and the entities in France and England constructed over these years, the strategic evolution of the game in the direction of a extra economically sustainable mannequin, and extra just lately the Alpine undertaking which offers a renewed sense of that means and dynamism, all level to a really positive trajectory.

“I want to thank Luca de Meo for involving me within the building of the Alpine Enterprise Unit and I want the brand new construction each success.”

The staff’s government director, Marcin Budkowski, has been tipped as Alpine F1’s new principal. In the meantime, Laurent Rossi has been named as Alpine CEO.

“I want to warmly thank Cyril for his tireless involvement, which notably led the Renault F1 Crew from the penultimate place in 2016 to the podiums final season,” mentioned De Meo, Groupe Renault CEO.

“His outstanding work in F1 since 2007 permits us to look to the long run, with a powerful staff and the brand new Alpine F1 Crew identification to overcome the podiums this yr.”