Renault Formula One team principal Cyril Abiteboul is leaving the company ahead of the relaunch as Alpine for 2021, the team says.
Abiteboul, a long time Renault employee, has been in charge of the F1 team since 2017 but now leaves the company altogether after a restructuring by new Renault CEO Luca de Meo, who joined last year.
“I would like to thank the Groupe Renault for having trusted me for many years, particularly with the relaunch and reconstruction of the team since 2016,” Abiteboul said on Monday.
Laurent Rossi, director of strategy and business development of Groupe Renault, is taking over as the new CEO of Alpine, which will also see him assume control of the F1 team.
Renault haven’t been as successful as they were in the mid-2000’s since rejoining F1 as a full constructor in 2016, but finally made it back on to the podium in 2020 with two top three finishes for Australian Daniel Ricciardo and one for Esteban Ocon.
“I would like to warmly thank Cyril for his tireless involvement, which notably led the Renault F1 Team from the penultimate place in 2016 to the podiums last season,” De Meo said.
For the 2021 season former world champion Fernando Alonso is rejoining the team, replacing Ricciardo, who moved to McLaren.
Renault will also swap their name for Alpine and the yellow colours for blue, red and white of the French flag.