Recently, Renault announced the return of two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso in July 2021 and the Enstone-based Formula 1 Team is committed to F1 at least till 2025 by agreeing to the latest Concorde Agreement. But the Formula 1 team has announced that under the leadership of New Group CEO Luca De Meo the company will be reorganised to place a sharper focus on key brands such as Renault, Dacia, Alpine and New Mobility.
As part of the change, the Renault Formula 1 Team will race under a new name and a new racing livery from 2021. The brand has announced that from 2021 the French manufacturer will be re-branded to become the ‘Alpine F1 Team’. Renault Team Chief Cyril Abiteboul has also been tasked to help upraise the Alpine brand, which currently produces the A110 sportscar.
The Renault Formula 1 Team will not only take the new name but also a new colour scheme, with the French national colours of red, white and blue replacing the yellow and black of Renault. The future chassis produced by the Renault Formula 1 Team will be designated as Alpines, but the Renault name will remain as the cars will run Renault E-TECH hybrid engines, produced in Viry-Chatillon.
Under the new colours, Team principal Cyril Abiteboul said the team were determined to return to the podium and win. The Team Chief also said that Alpine will bring ‘new meaning, new values and colours to the paddock with the spirit of competition’. The new Formula 1 rules including the implementation of the ‘budget cap’ will put an end to the expense race allowing teams to be measured in sporting value.
The Alpine brand is notable throughout motorsport history, with the marque taking victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours and in rallying, but this is the first time the brand has appeared as a manufacturer in F1. Renault’s first foray into Grand Prix racing in 1977 was with a team formed from the Alpine and Gordini competition departments.
The Formula 1 Team has also announced that Esteban Ocon will partner Fernando Alonso for the Alpine name’s first season on the grid.
Renault-Alpine A442B at Le Mans in 1978