- Famin to leave in August
- Frenchman to focus on other aspects of Alpine role
- Hitech GP founder Oliver Oakes linked with team principal job
Alpine Formula One team principal Bruno Famin is stepping down from his role at the end of August.
The Frenchman replaced Otmar Szafnauer at the Renault-owned outfit on an interim basis following last year’s Belgium Grand Prix before being named permanent team principal ahead of the current Formula One season. Famin is moving on in order take charge of all other motorsport activities of the Renault Group at Viry-Chatillon.
Alpine also said in a statement that “a new team principal will be announced in due course”. Oliver Oakes, team boss of the British-based Hitech Grand Prix team, is reportedly the leading candidate for the vacant role.
The exit of Famin arrives following various changes at Alpine in recent months amid a wretched 2024 campaign. Technical director Matt Harman and head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer left earlier this year as part of a restructure that saw the appointments of David Sanchez, Michael Broadhurst and Vin Dhanani. In June, Flavio Briatore was drafted in as an executive advisor and driver Esteban Ocon is leaving the team.
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Commenting on his departure, 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.
“Then there is a project of reallocating the resources within the brand from the Formula One power unit, where we have equally skilled people, to the brand itself in developing these high-end technologies.
“On the other hand, we have our new executive advisor [Briatore] who has arrived a few weeks ago – 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, and on one hand I need to dedicate my time to the Viry-Chatillon people, who are doing an amazing job, and we need to be together to be able to deliver this transformation if it’s confirmed, and on the other hand I think the global governance of the F1 team will be clear.”
Famin also confirmed that Alpine are in discussions with other engine manufacturers, which could see them move away from their own Renault works engine from the 2026 season – when Formula One’s new power unit regulations kick in.
Famin said a major restructuring process had been initiated at Alpine’s engine base in Viry and presented to staff representatives last week, adding that legally this process had to be completed before the team could confirm its next moves.
Alpine has been linked with a technical partnership with Mercedes that would include engine, gearbox and suspension supply.
“We will dedicate the resources to develop new technologies for the new product of the brand and one of the consequences of this project, if it’s accepted, would be for Alpine F1 team to buy a power unit, instead of developing its own power unit,” said Famin.
“We would have more resources to develop the brand and a different power unit to race for the F1 team.”
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