Bruno Famin will step down from his position as Alpine Team Principal, the team has announced. Famin, who took on the role before the start of the current Formula 1 season after serving an interim period following Otmar Szafnauer’s departure at last year’s Belgian Grand Prix, will transition out of his role by the end of August. He will take charge of all other motorsport activities of the Renault Group at Viry-Chatillon.
Recent Restructuring at Alpine
This announcement comes amid a series of significant changes at Alpine in recent months:
- Technical Restructure: Earlier in the year, Technical Director Matt Harman and Head of Aerodynamics Dirk de Beer departed from the team.
- New Appointments: David Sanchez was appointed as Executive Technical Director in May, having previously worked with the outfit. He was later joined by Michael Broadhurst as Chief Aerodynamicist and Vin Dhanani as Head of Vehicle Performance.
- Executive Advisor: In June, Flavio Briatore joined as Executive Advisor. His role involves focusing on top-level areas of the team, scouting top talents, providing insights on the driver market, and advising on strategic matters within the sport.
Driver Changes and Future Plans
Alpine is also preparing for changes on the driver front for the 2025 season:
- Esteban Ocon: Ocon’s departure at the end of the current season was confirmed in June.
- Pierre Gasly: Gasly has signed a multi-year extension to remain with the team, although his teammate for the upcoming season has yet to be revealed.
Famin’s Perspective
Commenting on his decision to leave his role as Team Principal, Famin said, “The background is there are many things together. The main one is we are at a very interesting moment for the Alpine brand, where we have a project that is even stronger than one year ago.”
He elaborated on the need to reallocate resources within the brand from the Formula 1 power unit to developing high-end technologies. He also acknowledged the arrival of Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore, stating, “I work well with him, I’m fine with him, I work well since he has arrived. But I think he has seen things with his own eyes.”
Famin emphasized the importance of dedicating his time to the Viry-Chatillon team to deliver the necessary transformation and clarified that the global governance of the F1 team would become clearer moving forward.
Statement from Alpine
Alpine confirmed that a new Team Principal will be announced in due course. This transition marks a pivotal moment for the team as they navigate through structural changes and aim to strengthen their position in Formula 1.
This announcement is part of Alpine’s broader strategy to enhance their competitive edge in Formula 1 and their other motorsport endeavors under the Renault Group’s umbrella. As the team looks ahead to future races and seasons, they aim to build on the foundation laid by Famin and his predecessors.
