With the end of the Formula 1 season fast approaching, Alpine is preparing for some changes between now and 2023. After the announcement of Fernando Alonso’s departure, Pierre Gasly will replace the Spanish driver.
There is no lack of ambitions for the coming seasons as 2023 will be a pivotal year for Alpine F1 (again). After the departure of Fernando Alonso and the future arrival of Pierre Gasly to replace him, Luca de Meo, the CEO of Renault, is now preparing the future. He also spoke about the image of the car brand and even announced major objectives for the future.
“Our presence in F1 has enabled us to boost the brand’s reputation”
In a statement reported by MotorSport, Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault, spoke about the power of Formula 1 in terms of the brand’s popularity:
“Our presence in Formula 1 has allowed us to boost the brand’s reputation worldwide. Especially in France, it’s skyrocketed thanks to Formula 1, and it’s a way to prepare and gain credibility for the future.”
“In these two years, things have changed”
Two years after the name change to Alpine, Luca de Meo explains that Renault “was not seen as an asset for the company but as an expense”. The brand’s CEO continues:
“It was an extra line in the budget. In those two years things have changed, not only in the company in general, which is now a major player as a car manufacturer, but also in the racing programme, which is really ambitious.”
“We hope to be a title contender in 2026”
Luca de Meo even makes a huge announcement about the team’s future and hopes to be a title contender by 2026. “Our team now has a value at the level of the best. We hope to be a title contender in 2026.”
The CEO of Renault since July 1, 2020, the Italian Luca De Meo, who has been crowned with the success of the Fiat 500 and the recovery of the Seat brand, joined the business in order to rescue the struggling Renault group.
He began his career at Renault, prior to joining Toyota Europe, followed by the Fiat Group, where he was head of the Lancia, Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands and CEO of Abarth. During his time as Fiat, he was considered a protégé of Sergio Marchionne.
Marchionne was disappointed at his results while he was leading Alfa Romeo. De Meo joined the Volkswagen Group in 2009, as marketing director of the brand of Volkswagen and of the Volkswagen Group, prior to taking up the position of board of management member for sales and marketing at Audi AG. He was president of SEAT from November 2015 to January 2020.
In January 2020 it was announced that he would be the CEO of Renault effective July 2020
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