Renault says Otro’s Alpine F1 partnership was ‘not successful’ as sale talks pause

Renault waits for the right Alpine investor

Renault CEO Francois Provost says the company is in no rush to approve a change in Alpine’s minority ownership, insisting the team’s partnership with Otro Capital was ‘not successful’ and that any future shareholder must be better aligned with Renault’s Formula 1 ambitions.

Speaking to The Race at the British Grand Prix, Provost made clear that Renault’s priority is not speed, but suitability. The French manufacturer wants any future minority partner to bring genuine strategic value rather than simply take a financial position. The Horner angle has already drawn wider paddock attention, with his Silverstone return also covered in our report on Christian Horner’s F1 comeback rumours.

Control remains Renault’s red line

Provost stressed that Renault intends to retain control of Alpine and has no plan to sell shares of its own. If Otro completes a sale, Renault wants a partner with what he described as ‘intimacy, common goal, and common interest’.

‘For me, there is no urgency,’ he said. ‘The first one is Renault will keep the control. We do not intend to sell shares.’

The message is pointed: Alpine’s future ownership structure may change, but Renault does not want a passive or misaligned partner. Operationally, Provost said the current situation has no impact, because Otro is not involved in running the team.

F1 commitment and Alpine recovery

Provost, who became Renault CEO in July 2025 after Luca de Meo’s departure for Kering, also dismissed any suggestion that Renault could step back from Formula 1. He described F1 as a central pillar of Renault’s motorsport activity and said the brand must remain in the championship.

‘We want to stay in F1,’ he said. ‘This for sure will not change the strategy.’

His immediate target is to stabilise Alpine after a difficult period marked by management changes and a last-place finish in the 2025 constructors’ championship. Alpine has started 2026 more strongly and sits fifth, one point ahead of Racing Bulls.

Provost said the goal is to score points at every race and build strong foundations across performance and sponsorship.

No engine U-turn planned

Renault’s decision to end its F1 works engine project and pursue a Mercedes customer partnership will not be reversed in the short term. While Provost supports the proposed V8 direction for F1, he said returning as an engine manufacturer is not his strategy.

‘My unique priority is short-term recovery, and strong foundation,’ he said. ‘Not to come back with an engine.’

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Source: The Race