Briatore brushes off Renault shake-up, dismisses impact on Alpine F1 as De Meo exits, meanwhile the Italian boss is touted for Ferrari role – Flavio Briatore has dismissed any suggestion that Luca de Meo’s sudden resignation as CEO of the Renault Group will disrupt the Alpine Formula 1 team. He insisted that the move would not affect the immediate future of the Enstone-based outfit.
Speaking to reporters in Montreal, Briatore, who was handpicked by de Meo in 2023 to serve as an executive advisor for Renault’s F1 operations, was quick to allay concerns over a potential leadership vacuum following de Meo’s departure in July. The flamboyant 75-year-old Italian, who is increasingly seen as Alpine’s de facto team boss following the quiet departure of team principal Oliver Oakes, declared that the project remains firmly on course.
“No impact, nothing,” he said bluntly when asked what de Meo’s resignation might mean for the Alpine team. “We continue exactly as planned.”
Luca de Meo departs, Alpine marches on
Over the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, the Renault F1 paddock was rocked by the bombshell revelation in French newspaper Le Figaro that de Meo had tendered his resignation from Renault.
The report was confirmed hours later by Renault Group in an official statement. It indicated that the 58-year-old intends to transition into the luxury fashion world, reportedly set to take over as CEO of Kering, the conglomerate behind Gucci, Balenciaga and Saint Laurent.
“After nearly five years of transformation and growth, Luca de Meo has decided to pursue new professional challenges outside the automotive industry,” the statement read.
“He will remain in his current position until 15 July to ensure a smooth transition.”
Although the timing took many by surprise, insiders at Alpine suggest that the shift had been in the works for months. De Meo’s gradual withdrawal from direct involvement in Formula 1 had already given Briatore increased autonomy, particularly after Oliver Oakes’ quiet departure earlier this season. With Alpine struggling to gain momentum in 2025, Briatore’s hands-on approach has intensified, and he now appears to be calling the shots, perhaps by default.
Power vacuum or power consolidation?
With Alpine suffering a sharp decline in performance compared to their midfield rivals, there are questions over whether de Meo’s exit might cause further instability. However, Briatore, never one to flinch in the face of a crisis, dismissed such concerns outright.
“In Formula 1, stability comes from vision and execution,” he said. “We have a plan. Luca supported that plan. His departure won’t stop us.”
This is a characteristically bullish stance from Briatore, whose chequered but undeniably successful Formula 1 career includes multiple stints as team principal at Benetton and Renault, during which he oversaw the world championship-winning campaigns of Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.
Yet his reappearance in the Formula 1 spotlight last year sparked debate, not least because of his lifetime ban, later overturned, after the infamous ‘Crashgate’ scandal. Nevertheless, de Meo took a calculated gamble in bringing Briatore back into the fold, hoping that the Italian’s business acumen and forthright leadership style could breathe new life into a struggling project.
Ferrari move: Political endorsement with a cautionary note
Outside the paddock, Briatore’s name continues to surface in other F1-related debates. This week, Italy’s President of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa, caused a stir during an interview on Rai Radio 1’s La Politica nel Pallone, suggesting that Briatore is a candidate to shake things up at Ferrari.
La Russa, who is best known for his football fanaticism and loyalty to Inter Milan, admitted to being no motorsport expert, but he did not hold back when the topic of Ferrari’s current crisis was raised.
“Flavio is a dear friend of mine,” La Russa said. “He’s always managed things very well. But even a great manager wouldn’t be enough for Ferrari right now.”
He added that Ferrari’s problems run deeper than personnel issues and that systemic problems would need to be addressed before any managerial changes could be effective.
“Flavio could be a valuable asset. He doesn’t just talk the talk — he gets things done,” La Russa quipped.
Ferrari’s shadow looms
Though the comments were light-hearted, they reignited speculation over Briatore’s long-term ambitions. While he appears committed to Alpine for now, the idea of Briatore joining Maranello — a team currently undergoing an identity crisis despite Lewis Hamilton’s arrival — has excited the Italian media.
Briatore has previously stated that he has no interest in returning to Ferrari, describing it as “a beautiful brand, but not my story”.
Yet, with Ferrari’s leadership model under increasing scrutiny and Fred Vasseur under pressure, some wonder if a vacuum could open that only someone like Briatore might dare to fill.
Nevertheless, Alpine remains his current battlefield. The team languishes at the bottom of the constructors’ standings, and progress this season has been glacial. Despite technical reshuffles and attempts to accelerate development, the team has yet to achieve consistent competitiveness.
The road ahead for Alpine is uncertain.
Much of Alpine’s future hinges on Briatore’s leadership and on whether the incoming Renault Group CEO will support the F1 project. Formula 1 has long been an expensive indulgence for car manufacturers, and with a new CEO expected to arrive later this year, priorities could change.
However, Briatore insists that the racing programme remains untouchable — for now.
“We are focused on performance. We are restructuring what needs to be restructured. Alpine is part of our DNA, and we’ll make sure it delivers.”
Whether these words are a sign of conviction or bravado remains to be seen. Alpine has undergone multiple managerial reshuffles in just three seasons, with Cyril Abiteboul, Laurent Rossi and now Oakes all having come and gone. Critics argue that the team has lacked real direction since Renault relaunched it under the Alpine name in 2021.
For now, though, Briatore is alone at the helm — charismatic, controversial and convinced that de Meo’s departure is just a footnote, not a plot twist.
“It’s business as usual,” he reiterated in Montreal. “We’re not going backwards.”
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