Famin has no problems with Briatore, says the Frenchman as he reflects on his departure from F1
Asked about the reasons for his imminent departure from the Enstone-based F1 team, Alpine team boss Bruno Famin denies any issues with Flavio Briatore.
On the eve of last weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, Formula One's Anglo-French outfit, Alpine have confirmed that Bruno Famin will leave his role at team principal at the end of August.
Famin, with a technical background, joined Alpine in 2022 and became team principal in July 2023, following earlier successes at Peugeot Sport.
Earlier in July, the Anglo-French outfit announced the return of former Renault Formula 1 team boss Flavio Briatore in an advisory role, 14 years after he resigned from the former Renault team.
Push on whether Briatore's arrival might have led to his departure, Famin denied any issues with the Italian.
"And, you know, we have a new executive advisor, since sometimes. I have no problem with Flavio. The little time we spend together, I have absolutely no issue, no problem.
"Everybody knows him. He has his own way. He has his own goal. I have no problem. But I think it will be clearer on that side if I step down from the team principal role of Alpine F1. And I will dedicate my time.
"Then I will step down from the team principal role by the end of August and be fully dedicated to the Viry-Châtillon activities from the 1st of September."
While Famin will move away from his role by the end of August, he will be in charge of all other motorsport activities of the Renault Group at Viry-Chatillon.
"You know, for the later year, I've been doubling my activities with one, the VP motorsport role, where I am managing Viry-Châtillon, with all the endurance, Dakar and Formula E projects we are managing there. And on top of that, acting as the managing director of BWT Alpine F1 team.
"And considering the stakes of the new project I was just mentioning about Viry, I think it will be much more useful for the company to dedicate my time, to concentrate my time to the Viry activities. I mean all the other motorsport activities and to the transformation project, if it's confirmed, because it will be a huge impact on all the Viry people.
"Let's not forget that the guys in Viry are making an amazing job. We all know that since 2014, we don't have the best engine in Viry, but it's one of the engines which improved the most since 2014. And now, we're still not exactly at the top, but the improvement has been very good. And the job which is being done in Viry to prepare the 2026 engine is incredible.
"We fixed a very high target and I am confident that we can reach that target. The figures we have from the dyno are very good. All the people are very involved, very professional, very skilled. And it's a very difficult situation there. And I think all the people, they are worth that we dedicate the necessary time to be with them in this project, which is huge. And that's why I will finish," concluded Famin.
