Renault Group chief executive Luca de Meo reportedly visited Enstone last week where he gave an impassioned “electro shock” speech in a bid to rally Alpine’s troops.
According to French daily L’Equipe, de Meo was on site last Wednesday at Alpine’s base, where personnel and team members, including Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, gathered on the factory floor while staff in Viry-Châtillon – Alpine’s engine department – joined in via video conference.
Alpine has undergone a multitude of management changes in the past months that started with former Alpine F1 CEO Laurent Rosso being moved away from the team.
But at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa just before F1’s summer break, Alpine announced the departures of team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane, while it was also confirmed that chief technical officer Pat Fry would join Williams.
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Furthermore, Alpine VP of Motorsports Bruno Famin, who heads the team’s engine department at Viry, was appointed interim team principal.
In his 40-minute speech delivered last Wednesday, de Meo is understood to have reaffirmed his support and that of the Renault group for Alpine’s Formula 1 project and given an update on the team’s future timetable.
He also allegedly confirmed that Famin will assume the role of team principal on a permanent basis, a change that would put to rest rumors involving former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto’s move to Alpine.
According to German website Motorsport-Total, those who witnessed the speech described it as “determined” and “sharp”, and above all as emotional.
The report added that de Meo assured staff who are “now following suit and moving the team forward again” are safe in their positions, while those stuck in “old patterns” will have no future with the team.
Finally, the Renault Group executive made it clear that for unity to prevail between Alpine’s chassis and engine departments, the communication between the two groups must improve.
De Meo’s very presence at Enstone and his speech to the staff is a sign of his commitment to Alpine and his belief in the team. But it’s also a sign that he is expecting better results in the future, and he will not be afraid to make further changes if necessary.
Hopefully, the Italian’s rallying of the troops will have a positive impact on the team, although it is now a given that Alpine will not reach its target of finishing fourth in F1’s Constructors’ Championship.
The French outfit is currently sixth in the standings, 88 points behind fifth-placed team McLaren.
“We’re not thinking about the championship any more, we just want to get the best possible result every time, taking the races one after the other,” commented Famin in Japan last week.
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