Rumors
Will important Alpine leader leave the team? 'Possible move to competitor'
- Ludo van Denderen
Alpine CEO Luca de Meo finally announced his team's decision about continuing to produce their own F1 power unit last week: After the '25 season, Renault will withdraw as engine supplier. Whether De Meo will stay until once they become a customer team in Formula 1, however, is very much in doubt, according to rumours.
Indeed, several international outlets reported that CEO Luca de Meo may soon leave the Renault Group and switch to Stellantis; the group based in the Netherlands. The Dutch group are a constellation including brands Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Maserati and FIAT among others. They are no langer active in Formula 1, but have interest in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), as do Alpine.
'No Renault merger with Stellantis'
Incidentally, it was also rumoured recently that Renault might join forces with Stellantis and complete merger, however, De Meo and Stellantis' top executive have ruled that out. Renault, as a result, will remain an independent company, despite the fact that they are also through difficult times in the car market.
What is certain for now, is that Renault will stop manufacturing power units for F1. De Meo revealed talking to L'Equipe that it was not an easy decision they had to make.
"We have become invisible. Two more years like this and the project would collapse completely. We have been in a downward spiral for three seasons now. We had to do something to change," De Meo explained.
This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sarkozi
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