P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Renault CEO Luca de Meo has admitted Alpine mishandled Fernando Alonso’s exit from F1 in 2022 – a misstep sparked the saga that sent Oscar Piastri to McLaren.
Renault CEO Luca de Meo acknowledged Alpine’s mishandling of Fernando Alonso’s departure from Formula 1 in 2022, which ultimately led to Oscar Piastri joining McLaren. Alonso, a two-time World Champion with Renault, made a successful comeback in 2021, showing he still had the pace for modern F1. Contract negotiations between Alpine and Alonso soured due to age concerns and the team’s interest in promoting Piastri. When a seat opened up at Aston Martin, Alonso swiftly made the switch, catching Alpine off guard. Despite mistakes in handling Alonso’s departure, de Meo mentioned they still maintain a good relationship with him. The aftermath saw Piastri being named as Alonso’s replacement at Alpine before ending up signing with McLaren, causing legal complications and a breakdown in trust within the team. Alonso and Piastri have moved on to successful stints with other teams, while Alpine continues to struggle near the bottom of the Constructors’ standings.
