Cyril Abiteboul worried about the Alpine Renault split

For several weeks, the future of Renault in Formula 1 has been uncertain. As the Alpine F1 team announced the end of its collaboration with the historic engine supplier, Cyril Abiteboul, former director of Renault in F1, reflects on the situation.

He, who worked for 20 years, from 2001 to 2021, recently expressed his concerns about the current situation of his former team, especially regarding the ongoing developments at Alpine.

An unexpected situation for everyone

The automaker Renault has been in Formula 1 for over four decades. Engaged in several motorsports, the company could soon definitively leave Formula 1. A former standalone team for several years, it did not expect to see the end of its collaboration with Alpine. The Viry-Châtillon factory, responsible for producing Renault’s F1 engines, is one of the victims of this end of collaboration. With the desire to centralize their activities in Enstone, several hundred employees are at risk.

This change would mark the end of Alpine as a factory team. According to the latest rumors, the French team would turn to Mercedes to design its next engines. This decision is still being negotiated at the moment and leaves its employees uncertain about their future.

Cyril Abiteboul, who has spent many years in the company, wanted to express his regrets to the media. “I feel sorry for the group of people I knew very well…” he began. “I worked there for 15 years, it’s a long period, and many things have changed. I would like to think that this is not the end of the story for those who have dedicated their lives to Formula 1, but I am no longer the boss, so it’s difficult to comment,” he said.

The former team manager acknowledged the difficult situation, even though Renault’s involvement is changing in motorsport. However, now led by Oliver Oakes with the help of Flavio Briatore, Alpine does not seem to want to maintain ties with the French firm.

Cyril Abiteboul does not plan to return to F1

Looking ahead to 2026 and its new regulations, many teams are now attracted to the sport. Audi and Ford are examples, as they will join in 2026. Cyril Abiteboul, who now works at Hyundai Motorsport as a team principal for Rallying, ruled out the brand’s arrival in Formula 1. “I don’t think we are ready for that,” he said. For now, Hyundai remains focused on rallying. “Formula 1 is a different world… For now, we are not ready, we are not even interested,” admits the Frenchman.

However, despite a categorical refusal for the moment, the Hyundai team director does not totally rule out an arrival in Formula 1. Before making their decision, they will first need to prepare. Our only chance to enter would be in 2031, but we have not yet decided on that year. It would certainly take five years to prepare. Take Audi, for example, they also decided in 2021 to enter in 2026, Cyril Abiteboul explains.

As Renault and Alpine navigate a period of uncertainty, the future of the Viry-Châtillon factory and its employees remains in limbo. For now, all eyes are on Renault as the team goes through these changes, with the hope that their Formula 1 history will continue in some shape or form.