Bruno Famin exits Alpine F1, citing strategic differences with Flavio Briatore, signaling a pivotal shift.
Flavio Briatore’s arrival marked a subtle undermining of his personal authority: it was therefore unsurprising to learn that Bruno Famin would be stepping down from his role as team director at Alpine F1, to be succeeded by Oliver Oakes.
However, Famin will remain a key figure within the Renault Group: he will oversee the transformation of the Viry factory. No longer producing F1 engines, the facility is set to become a cutting-edge technology centre for Renault Group engines.
Appearing on the “Beyond the Grid” podcast to discuss these pivotal and concerning developments for Renault’s future in F1, Bruno Famin chose not to focus on his personal situation.
“The major event is not my position, or that of the team director at Alpine, but the potential shift in power unit (likely from Renault to Mercedes, editor’s note). This has a profound impact on hundreds of people and even on the nature of the project—because we are now seeing different models in how manufacturers operate in F1.”
“We see this with Ford, with Audi, and yes, we might consider changing models, but the impact on people, on staff, is tremendous. That really is the most crucial issue.”
“My personal situation is not a major concern, to be honest.”
However, Famin himself admits: seeing Renault no longer develop its own engines in F1 was a profoundly destabilizing event.
“It was a shock for everyone—for me as well, of course.”
“But on the other hand, it highlighted the need for the changes we had already begun and needed to make.”
“What we saw at the start of the season was the result of what had been done previously and, in a way, even though it was a shock, it confirmed that we needed to change.”
“Since then, we’ve changed quite a few things, things are improving. And on that note, the most important thing from this difficult situation is that we’ve seen it was really necessary to radically change the team’s structure, and that’s what we’ve done.”
According to a Renault press release, Flavio Briatore was appointed directly by Luca de Meo and was also directly attached to the same de Meo, CEO of the Renault Group. Famin, the nominal director of Alpine F1, was not consulted…
Did the few weeks of cohabitation between Briatore and Famin really go well?
“There are two main things, the first is that for several weeks, we had Flavio Briatore as an executive advisor to the CEO, he has his own way of doing things and his own objective…”
“During the few weeks I worked with him, I didn’t have any major problems, no problems at all, in fact.”
“But I don’t think we really had the same approach and it will be clearer for everyone, internally and externally, if we clarify the team’s governance.”
“In both cases, I think the decision was easy to make and it poses no problem for me. I am very happy to have been a Formula 1 team director for a year and I am not unhappy to leave.”
What future for Viry?
With the past accounted for, let’s talk about what comes next. Trade unions are concerned about the future of the Viry site; there are even threats of strikes that could affect the team’s operations at Zandvoort. Are there going to be layoffs? Specifically, what plans will be offered to employees?
“At Viry, if it is confirmed, we will have a huge plan to transform the company that will put more resources into managing the other motorsport program—but also into developing these new activities in the high-tech field.”
“I think it’s not easy for all the staff and we need someone who is fully dedicated to this project and I am very happy to dedicate myself to it.”
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Famin’s Exit Marks Strategic Shift at Alpine F1 Famin’s Exit Marks Strategic Shift at Alpine F1
