Renault wants Alpine to become the ‘French Ferrari’

Renault Group CEO Luca de Mao hinted at grand plans for establishing Alpine's historic image in France.

Renault wants Alpine to become the ‘French Ferrari’

Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz during the 2022 Canadian GP (image via F1 Chronicle)

Renault rebranded its F1 team in 2021 to Alpine in a bid to market the French sportscar manufacturer. The French auto giant targets 100 races as the timeframe for the Enstone-based team to fight for race wins. Now, Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has revealed the vision for Alpine and its F1 team in the minds of its parent company.

Luca de Meo claimed the automaker aims to establish the sportscar brand as France’s Ferrari. Scuderia Ferrari is often considered part of Italian heritage, with the Tifosi cheering for Maranello at every race. Throughout Italy, the Scuderia is seen as a matter of pride for the citizens. As such, de Mao believed it was time for France to take pride in its racing legacy with Alpine.

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He said, “Alpine Formula 1 team will become the French Ferrari. In France, there still isn’t enough passion for the world of motorsport. This is because the fans don’t have a team to support, as Italy has with Ferrari.” The Renault Group CEO was convinced that the Enstoned-based team could ignite a love and passion for the world of racing in the French people.

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Alpine to bring a passion for racing in France

esteban ocon alpine pierre gas 1
Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly (Credits: GQ Magazine)

Moreover, de Mao insisted that the iconic blue color of the French sportscar brand would stand for passion. He said, “Our objective is for the Alpine colors to be associated with passion.” Similarly, Ferrari’s classic Rossa Corsa or Racing Red has been associated with the racing legacy of the Italian giant by millions of fans who support the Prancing Horse.

However, there is a long way to go before Renault can achieve its targets with the Alpine brand. Alpine, as a carmaker, currently has only one car in its line-up, the A110. The French carmaker is not planning to expand its line-up till at least 2025. On the other hand, The Enstone-based F1 team has failed to break out of the midfield and challenge at the front so far, with Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon struggling to match the top teams.

Thus, Renault Group CEO Luca de Mao has clarified that the auto giant has big plans for Alpine. The sportscar brand is aimed to have a similar image in France to what Ferrari has in Italy. Although, this would be a humongous task as the Prancing Horse took decades to truly solidify its place as the de-factor racing team in the minds of the mass.

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