Gasly urges unity as Alpine grapples with de Meo’s departure

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly expressed both sadness and concern over the announcement that Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo will be stepping down next month—news that has cast fresh uncertainty over the future of Renault’s F1 operation.

The Italian executive, who will leave his position officially on July 15, played a pivotal role in reshaping Renault’s automotive direction and reviving its Formula 1 ambitions through the Alpine brand.

Under de Meo’s stewardship, Renault streamlined its operations and positioned Alpine as a standalone performance marque, with F1 at the heart of its global strategy.

Now, just as Alpine prepares for a sweeping transformation – including a switch to Mercedes engines in 2026 and a new leadership structure – de Meo’s sudden departure has raised alarms about the stability and long-term vision of the Enstone-based squad.

Gasly, who joined Alpine in 2023 after being brought in under de Meo’s leadership, didn’t hide his disappointment when asked about the news following the Canadian Grand Prix, where he finished a lowly 15th.

Very Sad to See Him Leave"

"First of all, I think I need to have all the information. I have a very good relationship with Luca, he was the one that took me into the team, and I think he's a very inspiring person," Gasly said.

"So obviously, first reaction is that I'm very sad to see him leave."

De Meo’s influence at Alpine extended far beyond the paddock. His leadership stabilized Renault’s finances and injected fresh identity into its motorsport program, even as the team’s F1 form floundered.

The squad has undergone multiple managerial overhauls in recent seasons, but de Meo remained a steadfast figure in the background, committed to the long-term F1 project.

Read also:

• Renault shocker: Group CEO Luca de Meo resigns - Alpine F1 future unclear

"I'm sure he's got some good reasons,” Gasly continued. “And I think at the end, for us as a team—even though not everything is great at the moment – there's still a lot of positives happening at the factory.

“For me, it's important that we keep that momentum going into '26, because the picture and the performance could be very different. And we need to keep that in mind."

"Stick Together in These Types of Moments"

Alpine is expected to announce the appointment of F1 veteran Steve Nielsen as its new team manager, succeeding Oliver Oakes who left the team abruptly last month.

When asked about the difficulty of maintaining focus amidst such changes, Gasly acknowledged the human element of the situation.

"I understand that. It's completely normal, it's completely human to feel that,” he said.

“And I think it's important for all of us to stick as a team and stick together in these types of moments. And, you know, rely on each other and just trust the long game."

De Meo’s next move will take him outside the automotive world altogether – on Monday, it was confirmed he will take over as CEO of Kering, the French luxury conglomerate that owns brands like Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.

As for Alpine, the coming months may prove pivotal. With de Meo’s exit, questions over Renault’s appetite to keep investing in Formula 1 are bound to resurface – leaving Gasly, his teammates, and the wider team waiting anxiously to see what direction the new leadership chooses to take.

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