Bruno Famin, who took on the position of Alpine team principal in July 2023, has announced that he will be stepping down from his role after the 2024 Belgian GP. This decision comes as a result of the team’s disappointing performance in the 2024 F1 season, where they currently sit in eighth place in the constructors’ championship, with only nine points from 13 Grand Prix races. Despite having talented drivers like Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, Alpine has seen a decline in their standings under Famin’s leadership, losing 38 points in the past year and falling behind Haas and RB.
Famin made the surprising announcement of his departure during a media interaction, including Total-Motorsport.com, stating that he will dedicate himself fully to the team until the end of August. The decision comes after a challenging practice session at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, where Ocon faced a water leak issue, and Gasly struggled to match the pace of Max Verstappen. The poor performance ultimately led to Famin’s removal from the team, as Renault CEO Luca de Meo continues his turbulent hiring and firing strategy in search of better results in F1.
The replacement for Famin as team principal is yet to be determined, but potential candidates include Flavio Briatore, Andreas Seidel, and Franz Tost. There is also a possibility of an internal promotion, with David Sanchez, the team’s executive technical director, being considered for the role. Alpine, with their strong presence in F1 and the motorsport community, thanks to their factories in France and Enstone, remains an attractive prospect for those interested in investing in the sport, such as Andretti.
While Famin’s departure may cause concern among shareholders and potential engine suppliers like Mercedes, he assures that his decision is not directly linked to the Alpine project. He acknowledges the complex history of the team, with its ups and downs, but believes that progress has been made in the past year. Famin emphasizes that the reasons for his departure are multifaceted and unrelated to the project presented to stakeholders.
