Pierre Gasly has urged the Alpine F1 team to stay united after the announcement of the Renault Group chairman Luca de Meo’s departure during the Canadian Grand Prix. As the Renault Group owns Alpine, de Meo’s exit marks a significant shift in the team’s leadership amid ongoing performance challenges. Gasly’s call for solidarity highlights the importance of cohesion as the team navigates this period of change.

De Meo had held the CEO position at Renault Group since 2020 and was instrumental in rebranding the F1 team as Alpine. He was also influential in signing Fernando Alonso and overseeing the team’s return to the winners’ circle with Esteban Ocon. However, despite these milestones, Alpine has struggled to consistently compete with the top four teams, slipping back into the midfield pack.

Instability in Alpine’s Leadership Roles

Alpine’s team principal role has proven challenging, with several changes in recent years. Cyril Abiteboul, Marcin Budkowski, Otmar Sznafauer, Bruno Famin, and Ollie Oakes have all occupied this position at different times over the last five years. The team’s inconsistent results have even triggered the surprise return of Flavio Briatore as an executive advisor to support the organization.

Gasly acknowledged the uncertainty created by de Meo’s resignation but praised his leadership and expressed sadness at his departure.

“First of all, I think I need to have all the information,”

Gasly said.

“I have a very good relationship with Luca, he was the one that took me into the team, and I think he’s a very inspiring person. So obviously, first reaction is that I’m very sad to see him leave.”

He also emphasized the need to focus on the positives as Alpine looks toward the future, saying,

“I’m sure he’s got some good reasons, and I think at the end, for us as a team – even though not everything is great at the moment – there’s still a lot of positives happening at the factory. And for me, it’s important that we keep that momentum going into ’26, because the picture and the performance could be very different. And we need to keep that in mind.”

Gasly Emphasizes Importance of Team Unity

Following the news, Gasly indicated that he plans to meet with senior management to gain clarity on how the leadership change will affect Alpine’s F1 operations. Despite concerns, he called for focus and mutual support within the team as they continue their work.

“Yes, I need to sit down with management and understand a bit more on what it means for the team, etc,”

he said.

“But at the end of the day, we all have our job, we all have our role, and we all need to focus on what we’ve got to do, and do it best. But, for sure I need to sit down with everyone.”

He underscored the human nature of feeling unsettled by such changes but stressed the need to rely on each other and trust in the long-term plan.

“It’s completely normal, it’s completely human to feel that. And I think it’s important for all of us to stick as a team and stick together in these types of moments. And, you know, rely on each other and just trust the long game,”

Gasly added.

Looking Ahead to a New Chapter for Alpine

With Alpine currently striving to regain competitive ground within a highly challenging Formula 1 environment, the team’s ability to maintain unity amid leadership turnover will be critical. Gasly’s perspective highlights a desire to preserve the positive aspects within the team’s Enstone factory and build toward improved performance for the 2026 season and beyond. How Alpine manages this transition could shape their trajectory in the coming years as they aim to close the gap to the sport’s leading teams.