Bruno Famin departs Alpine after four-year tenure

Bruno Famin, the former Alpine F1 team principal and Vice President of Motorsport, has left the Renault-owned organization. His exit concludes a four-year period of significant leadership change and restructuring within Alpine's motorsport division, which he helped steer through a turbulent phase.

Why it matters:

Famin's departure represents another shift in the leadership of the underperforming Alpine F1 operation and its broader motorsport activities. As a key figure who oversaw the transition from a dedicated F1 power unit program to a new technology hub, his exit raises questions about continuity and the future direction of Alpine's racing projects as they prepare for the 2026 regulations.

The details:

• Famin joined Alpine in early 2022 to lead the Renault engine program at Viry-Chatillon.
• He was promoted to VP of Motorsport in mid-2023, overseeing all Alpine racing activities including F1, World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the driver academy.
• Following the dismissal of Otmar Szafnauer in July 2023, Famin took on the additional role of interim F1 team principal during a period of major management upheaval.
• He held the F1 team boss role for approximately one year before being replaced by Oli Oakes in mid-2024.
• After stepping down from the F1 role, he was tasked with leading the transition of the Viry-Chatillon facility into 'Hypertech Alpine,' a technology development hub, as the standalone F1 power unit program was wound down.
• Alpine confirmed his departure was at his own request to pursue new personal projects.

What's next:

With Famin's responsibilities now absorbed by Axel Plasse, the Vice-President of Hypertech Alpine, the focus shifts to stabilizing the team's structure. Plasse will work directly with WEC team principal Philippe Sinault as Alpine prepares for its planned exit from the endurance championship later this year. For the F1 team, the leadership baton has already passed to Oakes, who faces the challenge of improving Alpine's competitive position on the grid.