Long-time Renault F1 team leader Cyril Abiteboul has left the company ahead of their first season competing under the Alpine name.
Abiteboul had led the Renault brand in Formula One since returning to the sport in 2016, but parent company Groupe Renault confirmed his resignation Monday and named Laurent Rossi as his replacement.
Abiteboul was named Alpine CEO in September last year before the F1 team was renamed under the sub-brand over the winter.
He will be replaced by Rossi, who has worked for Groupe Renault since 2018 as director of strategy and business development.
“I would like to thank the Groupe Renault for having trusted me for many years, especially with the relocation and rebuilding of the team from 2016,” Abiteboul said.
“The solid foundations of the racing team and organizations in France and England over the years have built the strategic evolution of the sport towards a more economically sustainable model, and more recently the project Alpine that gives a renewed sense of meaning and dynamism, all point to a very good route. “
Rossi will report directly to Groupe Renault CEO Luca de Meo.
“I would like to sincerely thank Cyril for his hard work, which in particular led Team Renault F1 from last place in 2016 to the podiums last season,” said de Meo. His remarkable work in F1 since 2007 allows us to look to the future, with a strong team and a new F1 Alpine Team identity to overcome the podiums this year. “
Abiteboul led Renault’s return to F1 as a manufacturing team in 2016 but failed to deliver a five-year plan to fight for competition by 2020.
This year the team will be racing under the Alpine name with two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso joining Esteban Ocon.