Alpine and Prost in Formula 1, it’s over. The former driver, who was non-executive director of the team, leaves it in a visibly conflicting atmosphere with the team’s pundits. It also loses its executive director. He is replaced by the boss of the brand, Laurent Rossi.
Alain Prost leaves Alpine. The quadruple F1 world champion had retained his position as non-executive director within the French team in the queen discipline of motorsport after the handover between Renault Sport and the Dieppe firm for the 2021 season. Prost had joined the diamond team in 2015 as a consultant and ambassador ; he took up his last post in 2019.
Alain Prost gets angry
Alain Prost says he refused the new contract that Alpine had offered him on the sidelines of the last Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the 2022 season, for relationship reasons. To our colleagues from The Team, he explains in particular that he was sidelined by Laurent Rossi, general manager of Alpine. ” I was no longer involved in the decisions, sometimes I did not share them. […] Even as a member of the board of directors, I discovered certain decisions at the last minute. (…) Relations became more and more complicated. I felt there was a lot of jealousy “, he reveals. And to continue:
“Laurent Rossi’s desire is to be alone, not to be polluted by anyone. He also told me himself that he no longer needed to advise.“
According to the former pilot, it was agreed that the manufacturer and himself jointly announce this separation. But the information fell without the participation of Prost, who publicly regrets a lack of respect.
His criticisms are addressed specifically to the management of Alpine, the man taking care to conclude: To the Enstone and Viry teams (where team members such as engineers and technicians work, editor’s note), I will miss you. At the wheel, Prost had played three seasons for Renault then one for Williams-Renault, at the end of which he won his final title. The Alpine brand benefited from its image, the riders from its expertise.
From cleaning to the head of Alpine
Alpine’s sports management is refocusing around Laurent Rossi. Just days before the announcement of the separation from Prost, Rossi was entrusted with the interim executive management of the F1 team following the departure of Marcin Budkowski. Both on the track and on the road, major projects have been launched for the years to come. Alpine will have to confirm in 2022 the promises of a 2021 F1 championship marked by a victory for Esteban Ocon. The manufacturer is also preparing a hypercar for the 2024 world endurance championship and plans to offer an exclusively electric road range for 2025. Alain Prost has not yet indicated anything about his personal projects.
TO READ. Alpine Futures (2024). First images of the 100% electric range
