There is trouble at the Alpine F1 team again. CEO of the Renault Group, Luca de Meo, has quit his role, and he is poised to join the Kering Group. This has sparked rumors suggesting that the French company may not want to keep the Alpine F1 team. Hyundai have already been touted as potential buyers.
Every month seems to bring new problems for the Alpine F1 team. Now, they face a question of existence. Renault Group’s CEO Luca de Meo has decided to quit his role to join Kering, the parent company of fashion brands Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.
De Meo is understood to have been a major reason behind Alpine staying within Renault’s umbrella. The Italian was the brains behind the team’s rebranding in 2021 as well. He was also the one to bring Flavio Briatore back to Enstone in 2024. de Meo also made the decision to shut Renault’s F1 engine factory and signed a deal with Mercedes for their power units from 2026 onwards.
But with de Meo now gone, doubts over Alpine’s future in F1 have increased. Reports suggest that the French company could look to dissolve or sell their F1 outfit. Flavio Briatore’s future is also hanging in the balance. The Italian was working closely with de Meo, and could now be relieved of his duties.
But many reports suggest that Hyundai has emerged as a potential buyer, if Renault do not want to continue with Alpine in F1. A familiar face may also return.
Hyundai could buy Alpine F1, with Cyril Abiteboul touted for a return
Life could come full circle for Cyril Abiteboul, with Auto Action reporting that Hyundai could potentially buy the Alpine F1 team. The 47-year-old is currently President of the South Korean company’s motorsports division.
Abiteboul served as the Renault F1 team’s Managing Director from 2014-2021. He was effectively the team principal during this period. But the Frenchman was sacked by Luca de Meo in 2021 when the team rebranded to Alpine. But with his former boss now gone, Abiteboul could now return back to F1.
Hyundai’s motorsports operation is headquartered in Germany. They are currently competing in multiple series including the World Rally Championship (WRC) and the TCR Touring Car Series. Starting in 2026, they are set to end their WRC factory program, and enter the World Endurance Championship.
Hyundai’s racing portfolio isn’t too big, and they are also exiting WRC. A potential takeover of Alpine could well be in the works, though no officials from the company have confirmed any interest.
The company has previously denied being interested in an F1 entry, given the high costs of operation. They also claimed that F1 cars provide no road relevance compared to rallying or touring cars.
As for Alpine, Flavio Briatore has also claimed that Luca de Meo’s departure does not change anything. The team is planning to head into 2026 as scheduled. A new Mercedes engine in the back of their cars amid new regulations is a source of positivity, with the exact future unknown.
