Renault Earthquake: De Meo walks, Briatore’s shadow looms large – In a move that has stunned the automotive and motorsport industries, Luca de Meo has announced his resignation as CEO of the Renault Group. After a five-year tenure marked by sweeping reforms, internal turbulence and an increasing involvement with Formula 1, the man credited with revitalising the French manufacturer has decided to end his time at Renault, just as the repercussions of his decision to reinstate the controversial Flavio Briatore continue to be felt.
De Meo’s resignation was confirmed by the Renault Board of Directors in a statement late on Sunday. His departure is set for 15 July 2025. Though couched in glowing terms of gratitude and acknowledgement, the timing has raised more than a few eyebrows.
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Renault described him as the architect of a radical turnaround, someone who ‘reoriented and transformed the company’ during one of its most perilous decades.
“There comes a moment in life when you know: the task is accomplished,” de Meo said in a farewell message.
“In less than five years, we at the Renault Group have overcome enormous challenges and achieved things that many thought were impossible.”
Indeed, few would argue with the financial and operational recovery that Renault experienced under his leadership. From the aftermath of Carlos Ghosn’s embattled era to global supply chain chaos and the disruptive electric transition, de Meo steadied the ship.
However, behind the scenes, his final act of ushering Flavio Briatore back into the Renault fold may prove to be his most enduring legacy.
From Carmaker to Kingmaker: De Meo Moves to Luxury
With Renault’s recovery seemingly secured, de Meo is now setting his sights on the world of high fashion. The 58-year-old Italian is set to join luxury conglomerate Kering, the parent company of Gucci and Balenciaga, calling it “a new adventure”. It’s a dramatic shift, but not one out of character for the globetrotting executive.
Having started his career at Renault, he then moved to Toyota, Fiat and the Volkswagen Group, leaving a trail of brand revivals in his wake. After leading marketing and executive roles at Fiat and Audi, he became CEO of SEAT, where he is credited with revitalising the Spanish brand.
In 2020, he returned to Renault at the peak of its crisis and immediately set about reshaping its corporate and sporting image.
Alpine overhaul and the F1 power play
One of de Meo’s most high-profile, and polarising, moves was in Formula 1. He rebranded Renault’s works team as Alpine, resurrecting the company’s boutique performance brand in an attempt to make the group more glamorous. However, success on the track proved elusive.
Despite holding onto fourth place in the 2022 Constructors’ Championship, Alpine slipped to sixth place in subsequent seasons. This was followed by leadership churn: team principals came and went with alarming frequency, CEOs rotated through the Enstone-Viry axis, and drivers openly questioned the team’s competitiveness. At the heart of this chaos was a CEO who was more involved than most.
De Meo personally oversaw the company’s Formula 1 strategy, spearheading the decision to end the Renault power unit programme after 2025. In a move met with considerable internal dissent, the manufacturer chose to abandon its long-standing Viry-Châtillon engine facility and seek customer deals for 2026 and beyond. For a team that had previously powered Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher to world titles, this was a humbling change of direction.
The Briatore factor: A legacy sealed in controversy
If de Meo’s departure marks the end of an era, then his final months in power will likely define it. Last year, he stunned the paddock by reinstating Flavio Briatore as an executive advisor to the Alpine F1 team. This brought back the man who led Renault to two drivers’ titles with Fernando Alonso, but it also brought back the figure disgraced by the infamous 2008 ‘Crashgate’ scandal that nearly ended his career for good.
Opinion is divided over Briatore’s return. Some saw it as a savvy move to reintroduce old-school grit and Formula 1 political cunning. Others saw it as regressive and symbolic of management’s desperation for short-term results. Regardless of where one stands on the issue, de Meo made the decision and has stood by it.
Now, with Oliver Oakes having stepped down as team principal just weeks ago, another name from the Briatore era is reportedly returning: Steve Nielsen.
The seasoned F1 administrator, who worked under Briatore in the Benetton days, is expected to help guide Alpine through an extraordinary period of transition without the man who brought them all together in the first place.
Wolff weighs in: Praise from the competition
News of de Meo’s resignation broke during the Canadian Grand Prix, prompting a flurry of reactions across the paddock. Among the first to speak was Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who made no secret of his admiration.
“Luca de Meo is a friend, someone I respect very much,” he said. “He has turned Renault around. I don’t know what his future holds, but whoever gets him will be lucky.”
This sentiment is likely to be shared by many in the automotive and motorsport industries. De Meo brought vision, dynamism and a no-nonsense attitude to a company that had been adrift in a sea of uncertainty. He took bold risks, some of which paid off handsomely — others, such as Alpine’s performance in Formula 1, remain unanswered questions.
Succession mystery and strategic instability
For now, Renault insists that a succession plan is already in place. However, the identity of the next CEO remains a mystery. Whoever takes the reins will inherit not only a rejuvenated carmaker, but also a sporting entity at a crossroads.
Will Renault’s new boss double down on de Meo’s Alpine and Briatore gamble? Or will the new leadership try to put an end to what some insiders view as a power struggle between traditional corporate culture and de Meo’s unique leadership style?
Furthermore, Alpine’s current engine predicament leaves them vulnerable in the customer market for 2026 and beyond. No deal has yet been secured for a new engine supply, and it is unclear who is leading the negotiations now that de Meo is leaving.
The Curtain Falls—Or Does It?
As Luca de Meo prepares to swap pit walls and boardrooms for the world of high fashion, the Renault Group is once again entering uncertain terrain. While there is little doubt that he leaves behind a revitalised company from an industrial perspective, the sporting side remains a complex and volatile legacy.
His decision to bring back Briatore may have been intended as a masterstroke to steady Alpine’s ship, but it now risks becoming a cautionary tale. Without de Meo’s unwavering support, can Briatore remain? And will the next CEO share the same belief in Formula 1 as a core brand pillar?
For now, de Meo is bidding farewell with grace and grand statements about transformation.
“I’m leaving behind a company that’s ready for the future,” he said. Only time will tell whether that future is as secure as he believes, or whether his sudden exit has jeopardised yet another Renault-era reboot.
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