Laurent Rossi becomes Alpine’s new CEO. Rossi, currently head of Strategy & Business Development of Groupe Renault, will also be the top executive of the Formula 1 team.
Rossi, 45, started his career at Renault in 2000 and returned in 2018. He has since held his current role, but he is immediately promoted to the top position at Alpine Cars. Rossi will not only be in charge of the Renault sports car brand, but also of Alpine’s motorsport activities. In concrete terms, this means that Rossi will also become the general manager of Alpine’s Formula 1 team. That team was still active as Renault F1 until last season, but is undergoing a name and transformation to Alpine F1 for the 2021 season.
The fact that Rossi gets that position is related to the departure of Cyril Abiteboul. He led Renault’s return to Formula 1 in 2016 and has been at the head of Renault Sport ever since. Abiteboul was also named as the intended CEO of Alpine Cars. However, that kite does not work and Abiteboul leaves in its entirety at Groupe Renault. No reason is given, but Abiteboul declares his gratitude for what he has been able to do over the years and in particular thanks CEO Luca de Meo for being involved in setting up a new Alpine business structure.