Battling Renault is expected to sell the Alpine F1 team.
A "disaster" ensued after the share price dropped by approximately 20 percent.
Staff and supporters of Renault's Formula 1 team, Alpine, might be feeling anxious ahead of the Belgian GP next weekend. Recently, Renault CEO Luca de Meo unexpectedly resigned, and now dismal financial results have worsened the situation for the French automaker.
"Yesterday, Renault Group shares plummeted," remarked Elmir Valeev, a Formula 1 commentator for Setanta Sports. "Not just fell, but plummeted by nearly 20 percent, and a day later, there’s no indication of recovery." Renault has already revealed cost-reduction strategies, acknowledging a cash flow of merely 47 million euros in the first half of 2025, which is hundreds of millions below projections. "That’s nearly a catastrophe," commented Valeev.
In the absence of de Meo, who appointed Flavio Briatore as his executive advisor for Formula 1 last year, Renault has now designated a new CEO, but only "on an interim basis." "The process of selecting a new Chief Executive Officer is already well underway," a statement from Renault indicated.
The new appointee will undoubtedly face growing pressure to critically evaluate the costly investment required for the Alpine team. "In such circumstances," said Valeev, "you need to divest from non-core assets. And their primary non-core asset is the Formula 1 team.
"Consider this scenario - your company is facing massive losses and has significant cash flow issues. Then you have a not particularly essential asset - a Formula 1 team, which you have invested several hundred million dollars into, but that is now, following the championship's explosive growth, valued at one and a half billion.
"And despite such a staggering price tag, there are groups and consortiums circling - literally circling - eager to pay you this money in exchange for a team that is not central to your operations. What would you do?" he expressed on Telegram.
There are rumors that if Mercedes successfully signs Max Verstappen for 2026, Toto Wolff will strike a deal with Briatore to loan Kimi Antonelli to Alpine. The rookie, just 18 years old, has acknowledged his struggles with performance lately and the immense pressure of stepping into Lewis Hamilton's shoes at a prominent team.
"It feels like swimming in a sea full of sharks," the young Italian shared with the Corriere della Sera newspaper. "One moment is all it takes to fall into a trap and be devoured. I realized this in Imola, where I learned how crucial it is to carve out time for myself. Moments where I can be alone in a quiet space, allowing me to mentally disconnect and isolate myself."
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