Renault CEO breaks his silence on Ferrari speculation

Luca de Meo, the CEO of Renault, has firmly denied any intention of joining Ferrari in a high-profile role, dismissing recent speculation linking him to the Italian team. 



As the CEO of Renault, de Meo oversees the company’s Formula 1 team, Alpine, which has been facing criticism for its performance in the 2023 season.



De Meo expressed satisfaction with Alpine’s recent podium finish in Monte Carlo, particularly highlighting the significance of the event’s double points. 



He emphasised that Alpine has a long-term project in place and recognizes the substantial effort required to compete with top teams like Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes.







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The Renault CEO also defended Alpine’s driver development program, stating that part of their project involves creating an academy similar to those established by leading teams. 



He mentioned Davide Brivio, formerly involved in MotoGP, who is responsible for nurturing talent within the program. De Meo emphasised their commitment to identifying and bringing talented individuals into Formula 1, citing the success story of Fernando Alonso, who blossomed with Renault and continues to excel in his career.



“Part of our project is to create an academy as it is at the top teams,” he said.



“Davide Brivio, formerly in MotoGP, is taking care of it. We’re trying to bring talented people into F1.



“We have always tried to be a forge of talent, as in the case of (Fernando) Alonso. He exploded with us and continues in his splendid career to be the protagonist today.”



Addressing rumours of a potential move to Ferrari, de Meo commended the progress of Formula 1 under the leadership of Stefano Domenicali, another prominent Italian figure. 




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“Formula 1 is growing rapidly thanks to the extraordinary work of another important Italian in Stefano Domenicali,” he said.



However, he clarified that the speculation surrounding his association with Ferrari in the past was merely rumours. While expressing admiration for Luca di Montezemolo, former chairman of Ferrari, de Meo categorically stated that he has never been in close proximity to the Italian team.



“Am I close to Ferrari? In the past it was just rumours. I admire (Luca di) Montezemolo a lot, but in fact I’ve never been close to Ferrari.”
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