Renault has outlined its vision for the new Alpine brand, under which their Formula 1 team will race from 2021.
In a press conference in Paris on Thursday, Groupe CEO Luca de Meo described what he called a “Renaulution” that sees Alpine become the “Avant-Garde” branch of the company above Renault and their budget Dacia division.
Alpine’s structure will bring together their current operation based in Dieppe, the Renault Sport Cars and Renault Sport Racing arms under one name, led by newly announced CEO Laurent Rossi.
Also announced was a memorandum of understanding to forge a collaboration with Lotus to develop an all-electric sports car for the road.
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“The new Alpine entity takes three brands with separate assets and areas of excellence to turn them into an empowered, fully-fledged business,” Rossi explained.
“The craftsmanship from our plant in Dieppe, the engineering mastery from our Formula One and Renault Sport teams will shine through our tech-infused, 100% electric line-up, taking the beautiful Alpine name to the future. We’ll be on the tracks and on the roads, authentic and high-tech, disruptive & passionate.”
On F1, it was revealed the 2021 car will have the chassis name A521 and will carry a black livery during pre-season testing in tribute to the company’s A500 F1 prototype from 1975, while the new Alpine branding adorns the engine cover.
“Giving a powerful and specific identity to Formula 1, but also to the entire Alpine motorsport programme, is an evidence and an opportunity,” design director Anthony Villain commented.
“With motorsport at the heart of our process, the graphic identity is key. The livery presented today is the first evocation of the Alpine F1 team’s new identity.
“Some of the structural graphic elements will remain on the racing livery while others will change. The ‘oversized’ Alpine emblem in a tricolour graphics system is the first clear-cut symbol of the brand’s identity in motorsport.
“The blue, white and red refer to the colours of the French and British flags, which is very important to us. Numerous variations on all the motorsport assets are still to come.”
A previous Alpine car revealed at Imola last year featured a dark blue livery predominantly with the same Alpine graphic towards the rear.
Esteban Ocon and returning double world champion Fernando Alonso will represent Alpine on the track in 2021.
