CEO De Meo intervenes at Alpine and has clear message for engineers
General
Things are very unsettled at Alpine this year. Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi voiced the necessary criticism of his own team and he subsequently disappeared from the fray. Team boss Otmar Szafnauer also left, as did Alan Permane. Results did improve slightly during the season, but in France they are not yet satisfied. Reason for Renault CEO Luca de Meo to call the entire F1 team together.
De Meo travelled to the UK last week to convene everyone at the Enstone plant. Alpine's engine division is based in Víry, France; they were there via video link. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were also present in Enstone.
Sermon by De Meo
According to information from Motorsport-Total.com, De Meo was speaking for about 40 minutes. The CEO's monologue is considered firm, sharp, but above all emotional. 'He would have made it clear that those who are now getting on with the job and moving the team forward again have no reason to worry [about their future]. But those stuck in old patterns have no future.'
Moreover, the men from Enstone and Víry should operate more. The two divisions would sit at separate tables in the motor home and not even sleep in the same hotels. De Meo's message: Alpine must become one team again and the staff are required to put their best foot forward, otherwise a letter of resignation beckons.
Famin's position
Meanwhile, Bruno Famin also looks set to remain the team boss next year. De Meo expressed his confidence in Famin and Alpine does not seem to be in the market for recruiting an external, new team boss.