Renault's Cyril Abiteboul says new Alpine task will not change his F1 role

Cyril Abiteboul said his role as Renault Formula One team principal would remain unchanged despite taking on a new task with the French manufacturer's Alpine sportscar brand.

Cyril Abiteboul said his role as Renault Formula One team principal would remain unchanged despite working on the manufacturer's Alpine sportscars.

Loss-making Renault, under new chief executive Luca de Meo, have announced a new organisational structure focused on core brands rather than geographical regions, with Abiteboul overseeing one of the four divisions.

"Right now what I have been asked to do is a mission, with a set of proposals, in order to structure a brand," Abiteboul told reporters in a video conference at the Italian Grand Prix on Friday.

Formula 1

Alpine boss open to Ricciardo return after Piastri drama

08/08/2022 at 08:10

"I’ve not been asked to run the brand. So it is not in any way a permanent appointment whatsoever. That’s what I will be focusing some of the spare time that I have, given what I am doing for Formula One.

"There is no question of a change of team leadership for the time that I do this mission."

Abiteboul would not be drawn on whether the team might be renamed eventually to incorporate the high-end Alpine brand as part of a marketing strategy.

• Prince William's brother-in-law joins Williams F1 board
• Hamilton opens up about difficult days and loneliness
• Team sold, Williams family to leave F1 after Italian GP

"These are corporate strategy questions for the CEO," he said.

"My two cents is that with the new Concorde (commercial) Agreement we have finally the possibility to have a stable platform in Formula One, a great marketing platform.

"Again, the way we want to make use of that platform will be up to the CEO. We have a flexible platform, we have different brands, probably rationalisation will be one of the things we will need to do given the group financial results."

All the Formula One teams have signed the new Concorde Agreement with rights holders Liberty Media and the governing FIA committing them to the next five years and new rules designed to make a more level playing field.

'We are incredible' – Lewis Hamilton praises Mercedes after 89th career win at Belgian GP

Formula 1

Recovering Alonso to be absent from Alpine F1 launch

26/02/2021 at 18:20

Formula 1

Hamilton: Qualifying sixth was 'best we could do' on 'terrible' track

14/11/2020 at 17:39

Formula 1

Renault F1 test signals a 'new beginning' for Alonso

13/10/2020 at 10:11