Renault has replaced the CEO of its sports car division Alpine for the first time since the brand’s entry into F1.
Laurent Rossi became CEO of Alpine in January 2021 ahead of its first season in F1, following the rebranding of its F1 team. Renault announced today Philippe Krief has taken over as Alpine CEO while Rossi will “focus on special projects linked to the transformation of the Group.”As CEO, Rossi’s responsibilities for the Alpine brand extended far beyond its F1 team. However he had a significant bearing on the operation and strongly criticised the team following the shaky start to its latest season.
Alpine claimed a surprise victory in 2021, its first season in F1, and went on to finish fifth in the championship. It moved up a place to fourth the following year, but also lost the services of both Fernando Alonso and junior driver Oscar Piastri to rival teams.
Its progress has stalled this year as Aston Martin began the season with a much quicker car and McLaren surprisingly passed them in the standings at Silverstone. In between Rossi sharply criticised the team following error-strewn performances in Bahrain and Baku, two of the first four rounds of the season.
Following the last race at Silverstone, Alpine promoted Bruno Famin as vice president for motorsports. Otmar Szafnauer, Alpine’s team principal, reports to him.
Krief, who has taken over from Rossi, joined Alpine just five months ago. He previously worked for Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari.
Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo said: “I would like to thank Laurent for his unwavering commitment over the last two years at the helm of Alpine. Laurent has set out a clear and ambitious strategy for the brand. He has put Alpine in the best possible position to achieve its long-term goals. Alpine is now ready to enter a new phase of its development and to become a brand of the future.
“Philippe combines a long industry experience, great technical knowledge with the leadership qualities that are key to the success of our project, including the launch of the brand’s new vehicles starting next year. I fully trust Philippe and his team to take Alpine to new heights.”
Last month the Alpine team announced an investment group including Ryan Reynolds and other celebrities had acquired a 24% stake in the team valued at €200 million (£170m).
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K
20th July 2023, 18:59
Alonso sends his regards.
Jere (@jerejj)
20th July 2023, 19:03
Surprising news
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
20th July 2023, 19:07
oh la la
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
20th July 2023, 19:32
Ah the good old “promoted away from the job he wasn’t that great at.” A corporate classic, to say the least.
Mog
20th July 2023, 20:44
Or is it because of the new investors? They had a preference for someone else?
I do see your point, but i didnt really see rossi not doing his job, alpine have never invested enough in the sport to be a top 3 team
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
20th July 2023, 21:18
There’s no point. CEO’s get promoted to token advisory roles all the time because firing CEO’s makes them and the company look bad.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
21st July 2023, 8:48
corporate crap I would say
Nick T.
20th July 2023, 20:17
Alpine team members are popping champagne.
SteveP
20th July 2023, 20:50
Quite likely, if I were in their position, I would.
He obviously didn’t manage to convince higher management that the Piastri contract cock-up was someone else, that Alonzo leaving was just Alonzo being capricious… and no doubt a list of other things that didn’t hit the headlines.
An event that had me read about it and mutter about “seagull management” and true to form he now flies out leaving a lot of sh
I’ve never had any respect for people who blame everyone but themselves and make no attempt to be supportive of the people under them.
Only Facts!
20th July 2023, 20:48
Here is a theory: thoose Hollywood guys made an investment. An investor is always after a profit, and that requires them to sell the shares later on.
Add to that the Andrettis, the little to none market for Alpine/Renault in the US and the lack of results from the team…
My math adds up to a possibility of a takeover of the team, with Renault keeping some shares and supplying the engines only.
Just spreading some weekend gossip… Don’t forget your heard that here first!
Luke S (@joeypropane)
20th July 2023, 21:26
Wouldn’t surprise me in the least – Renault probably been looking for an easy out for months.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
21st July 2023, 0:12
Wouldn’t be a bad thing, since no one else is giving andretti a chance to join f1.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
20th July 2023, 23:54
When he complained about all the things the team got wrong in Bahrain and Baku I couldn’t but think: ‘Alright, but all of those mistakes put together isn’t half as bad as letting Alonso slip through your fingers…’
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
21st July 2023, 8:05
There was a part of me that thought in ten years time the players involved in the Alonso / Piastri saga will come out and speak honestly and we’ll learn exactly what on earth happened there.
But I doubt we will, I can’t see any of the protagonists (not Fernando etc, I mean Alpine management) saying something other than ‘not my fault’.
Even going back to ‘Cyril & Red Bull / credit for the EBD’ spat. There just always seems to be something half heated second best about the team.
I can’t remember how many years they said it’d take to win in F1 when they came back, but I doubt Ocons win was inside that timeframe, if it was, I wouldn’t say it would qualify the team as ‘successful’ as such.
S Reid
21st July 2023, 12:22
I’m an Alpine fan – I’ve followed every iteration of Renault in F1 since the 70s – but I think that is a pretty spot on assessment.
I have little faith that the current team has the ability to really ever bridge the gap from where they are to where they say they want to be. From driver line up to race day strategy and from design to ambition and investment, it’s always nearly, but not quite.
Biggsy
21st July 2023, 9:21
Excluding the Flavio/Schumacher/Alonso years, the Enstone team never really had both the management AND the money at the same time. They always seem like they are approaching it half-heartedly, and just putting enough money to keep it in the midfield, but not more than that. There’s always some uninspiring, journeymen people leading it, and constant rebranding. Except for Boulier/Allison/Kimi years, when they had all the right people, but no money to maintain it.
joe jopling (@jop452)
21st July 2023, 20:28
Two ways to manage…big stick..beat everyone and have them terrified so they work harder….option 2… talk nicely to people, help them to do the job, even put an arm round them….Rossi was only capable of the first one…guess you have to know when to use each option…He may have been moved in the company…I call it sacked