F1 News: Alpine's Epic Vision - Can Alpine Become the Next Ferrari?

Luca De Meo certainly feels optimistic about his team.

Amidst a sea of management shake-ups in the Alpine F1 team, Luca De Meo remains a beacon of optimism for the French squad. Talking to the Italian arm of Sky Sports, he shed light on the evolving dynamics within the team as it continues to change. As the driving force behind the manufacturer Renault, De Meo wants to see Alpine take up the mantel as the Ferrari of France. 

F1 has seen numerous French teams adorned its circuits over the years, each etching their legacy into the sport, some more pronounced than others. Alpine, having made its F1 debut in 2021, notably boasts of Esteban Ocon's triumphant win in Hungary the very same year.

But for De Meo, this isn’t enough; he's looking to rekindle a fervor in France for the sport. He passionately proclaimed:

"The Alpine F1 team will become the French Ferrari." He observed a waning enthusiasm in France for F1, noting:

"In France, there is still too little passion for Formula 1. The reason is that French people do not have a symbol to cheer for like Italy has with Ferrari."

Looking back, De Meo's impressive tenure at Fiat paints a picture of his vision. Tasked with the rejuvenation of the iconic Fiat 500, his drive to establish its identity was remarkable. It's that very zeal he wishes to infuse within the Alpine project. 

"Our goal is to link Alpine's colours with feelings of passion, as we did with the Fiat 500 at the time. The idea is to tie history to these colours and thus create commitment," he eloquently expressed.

However, it's undeniable that the Alpine team has faced its fair share of challenges and scrutiny, especially recently after Otmar Szafnauer's leaving, and of course Laurent Rossi's abrupt departure from his role as Alpine's CEO. With Alan Permane and Pat Fry gone as well, it will be an up-hill battle for them to even gain the performance of Ferrari, yet alone its stature.