Renault is expected to announce plans to rebrand its Formula 1 team for the 2021 season.
The team will take on the name of Renault’s performance car division Alpine, RaceFans understands. The Alpine brand, which was founded in 1955, resumed production of road cars in 2017 following a 22-year hiatus.From next year the French team will be formally titled ‘Alpine F1 Team powered by Renault E-Tech engines’. The blue ‘E-Tech hybrid’ brand was added to the cars’ engine covers earlier this year.
Renault announced changes to its group brands yesterday including the appointment of Renault F1 team managing director Cyril Abiteboul in charge of Alpine, one of its four main business units.
Speaking earlier today Abiteboul did not confirm the rebranding, saying it was a matter for new CEO Luca de Meo. “It will be up to him to decide what way he wants to market the different brands,” said Abiteboul. “I’m just running the team.”
Abiteboul said his role in charge of Alpine will be to build up its organisation as he has at Renault’s F1 team.
“One thing that he has announced is that he has big expectations indeed for Alpine. What he has asked me to do as a mission, on top of what I am currently doing, running the team, is to provide a couple of suggestions in order to build an organisation around that brand.
“Right now that brand is one car, one model – A110 – but we want do more and that needs an organisation: An engineering department, a product department, a sales, marketing and communication department. So that’s what I’d like to do.
“That’s what I’ve done for the team: building an infrastructure and a platform. That’s what I will be doing at the top. But that has absolutely no implication for the marketing strategy.”
De Meo is expected to attend this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
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erikje
4th September 2020, 19:30
so.. he is putting aside nice and clean, and who will lead the team?
Dennis Achterberg
4th September 2020, 23:51
He’s not being put aside, he is making a plan and strategy for the Alpine business unit besides his job as a team principle. You didn’t read the article it seems.
ColdFly (@)
5th September 2020, 7:46
Abitofbull will continue to lead the team.
Expect the F1 team to be positioned within the Alpine division.
Adam (@rocketpanda)
4th September 2020, 19:31
Alfa, Alpha, Aston, Alpine… A’s are so in right now.
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
4th September 2020, 19:44
@rocketpanda just wait for Mclaren rebranding as Ayrton F1 Team
Matthew S Goelz
5th September 2020, 5:24
Or extend the IndyCar name over: Arrows McLaren
H67
5th September 2020, 15:16
That made me get sick to my stomach
ColdFly (@)
4th September 2020, 19:52
AMG Mercedes
Bart
4th September 2020, 21:24
Maybe some of the other teams will rebrand to historic names from the past: Arrows, AGS, ATS, ATeS, Alta, Andrea Moda…
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
4th September 2020, 22:49
Andrea Moda, because the two ‘a’s in Haas just weren’t enough
NS Biker (@rekibsn)
5th September 2020, 5:11
So … Dr. Seuss got it right all those years ago.
Little a, BIG A, what begins with A …?
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
5th September 2020, 11:46
Aardvark Racing will be the new name for Williams. You read it here first.
BaKano (@bakano)
4th September 2020, 19:48
They are removing Abiteboul from the F1 team by promoting him (in the Group). Sounds about right…
Alpine has a lot of history but in Endurance and Rallying (in that case both Renault and Alpine have history) but as far as I remember they were never related to F1 so in a way it sounds weird. It makes sense because Alpine is the sports brand from the group so better suited for top competition but it is just that Renault has been involved (team and engines) for quite some time so to me is sad to see the team rename.
anon
4th September 2020, 21:07
@bakano before Alpine was merged with Gordini to form the Renault Sport division, Alpine (and in particular Andre de Cortanze) was commissioned by Renault to develop the first prototype turbocharged car, the Alpine Renault A500.
The A500 was only ever intended to be a rolling test bed that would allow Renault to develop the engine and to learn more about building a Formula 1 grade chassis, but Andre de Cortanze was also involved in the design of the RS01, which would be the first car that Renault raced. It could therefore be noted that Alpine did have an important role in establishing Renault’s operations in Formula 1.
BaKano (@bakano)
5th September 2020, 10:18
Thanks anon, I wasn’t aware that the A500 was the basis for RS01 so Alpine was indeed very much involved with the beginnings.
Jamie B
4th September 2020, 21:08
@bakano It makes sense though, as it will still be a Renault engine (the only one on the grid), so that would make it Alpine-Renault. That’s publicity for both brands at the same cost as one.
In any case, it’s good to see an indication that they’re staying committed to F1
Dennis Achterberg
4th September 2020, 23:47
Abitboul isn’t removed from the F1 team. He will still be the team principal, he just been asked by de Meo to create a plan and strategy for the Alpine group
Green Flag (@greenflag)
4th September 2020, 20:06
Hopefully in French Racing Blue livery.
abananasplitz
4th September 2020, 20:17
current livery is one of the best on the grid though and i’ll miss it.
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
4th September 2020, 22:50
They also have kinda sketchy reliability which does the Jordan Honda colors proud
abananasplitz
4th September 2020, 23:19
Damn i miss Eddy sometimes xD
Aleš Norský (@gpfacts)
4th September 2020, 20:06
That would make it full circle, as Renault’s entry into F1 was based on acquisition of Alpine Cars in 1976, which included the F1 test programme of Alpine 500 car that had become Renault RS01.
baasbas
4th September 2020, 20:27
I was hoping on a nice blue Vaillante…
vrrrrrrRRRRRROOOOOAAAAAaaaaaaahh
Only Facts!
4th September 2020, 20:32
This just in!
Alfa Romeo rebranded as Stellantis Mopar Racing.
Williams as Royal Racing F1.
Mercedes as HOT Racing (Hamilton’s Own Team)
abananasplitz
4th September 2020, 20:38
no no merc would be: VSR (virtue signal racing) :)
Postreader
4th September 2020, 21:34
“hehe! look how funny my political comment in a racing website is!” :)
CC
4th September 2020, 21:57
Certain drivers are bringing politics into racing.
F180 (@f180)
4th September 2020, 22:27
And that’s the whole issue. Politics inside F1 is most of the time is rich childish people crying, tolerable. However now it’s everybody trying to make you feel guilty for any reason. Is there any room left for plain simple spectacle to relax and enjoy?
abananasplitz
4th September 2020, 23:16
@Postreader it was a joke, hopefully that wasnt lost on you.
Robert McKay
4th September 2020, 20:46
“From next year the French team will be formally titled ‘Alpine F1 Team powered by Renault E-Tech engines’.”
Also known as “Renault”.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
4th September 2020, 22:35
Bah… really, really don’t like that…
budchekov (@budchekov)
4th September 2020, 22:42
The only Alpine I know about is a Sunbeam…
barryged (@barryged)
4th September 2020, 23:50
lol, i just remember them :)
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
4th September 2020, 22:52
This is a good move and one that I suggested last year.
There’s no point having a sporting brand and not advertising it in F1, especially when your road car is as good as the current Alpine.
I remember as a young adult literally salivating over a metallic blue Alpine GTA at Outlon Park. A bright yellow A610 had a similar effect on me a few years later.
It’s only branding but the Alpine name will resonate far more with me than Renault.
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
5th September 2020, 9:05
Yes @sonnycrockett. All team should be named like this.
– Mercedes AMG
– Alpine Renault
– Valkyrie Aston Martin
– Red Bull Mugen Honda
decon$ume
5th September 2020, 0:55
Renault slowly backing away from F1? Supplying only one engine on the grid, title sponsor is a car brand that only makes one car. RIC’s decision to leave at the start of the year is still a puzzle, might this news start to put some of that into context?
Seppo (@helava)
5th September 2020, 1:30
Is there some context that anyone can provide why Abiteboul isn’t a guy who’s just constantly failing upwards? As a team principal with one of the largest budgets on the grid, what has he accomplished that justifies his position? Lost all their engine customers, team performance akin to Toyota, no coherent driver strategy… I don’t get it. Am I missing something, or Abiteboul just a good politician?
Tristan (@skipgamer)
5th September 2020, 2:44
Loyalty, nothing, no.
Business people love loyal hard workers, regardless of their results. He must be one hell of a party goer too. Lots of photos seen with other paddock members with massive smiles in the morning over the years.
decon$ume
5th September 2020, 2:46
I keep hearing mention that Abiteboul has “deep family connections” with Renault, but haven’t seen any details about what those are.
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
8th September 2020, 2:53
Their budget is sizeable but they’re no Toyota in that respect
Tristan (@skipgamer)
5th September 2020, 2:27
Lol, what a nice way of saying Renault is pulling away from F1. Sure they are owned by Renault for now, but putting the whole racing division in one nice and easily attached package definitely means they won’t be selling off any time soon, nope, not at all.
This is the smart way of avoiding headlines like “Renault abandons F1 with no wins in 10 years” when the time does come.
Balue (@balue)
5th September 2020, 8:34
@skipgamer Yes that’s a reasonable thought.
I anyway couldn’t really see what gain Renault got out of F1 as they never seem to capitalize on their F1 brand investment with some relevant car models, but were mostly just selling bangers for the mid-market.
With Alpine it would all make sense both as a marketing platform but also for the exit as you say.
SadF1fan
5th September 2020, 8:36
Yeah, now they can write Renault Nissan Mitsubishi alliance abandons F1 with no results in 10 years.
UNeedAFinn2Win (@uneedafinn2win)
5th September 2020, 8:13
Good.
Ferrari
McLaren
Mercedes
Aston Martin
Alpine
Alfa Romeo
Now replace the Porsche supercup with a grid full from all these in some of the races next year, perhaps each their “home” race, and drivers from F3, F2 and F1 reserves and inviting some local talent/legends.
I’ll happily watch driver go out on different car each race. And it would be fun for the drivers, too
Mark in Florida
5th September 2020, 16:14
Alpine Racing powered by Alpine Stereo! I don’t know if they would be any faster but they would sound better.