Renault replaces top F1 leadership

Sun, 06 Jul 2014

Renault is a company accustomed to winning in Formula One. In the past ten years alone, it has claimed an unfathomable six world championships, first with Fernando Alonso two years in a row and then powering Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing to four consecutive titles. But suffice it to say that things haven't been going so well this season since the introduction of the new hybrid turbocharged V6s as Mercedes-Benz has stolen its thunder. The teams it supplies aren't happy, and neither is the French automaker itself. Which could go a long way towards explaining why it's changing the top leadership in its F1 operations.

As of July 3, Renault Sport F1 president Jean-Michel Jalinier is stepping down, exercising "his right to retirement for personal reasons," according to the statement below. In his place, Renault has appointed two successors.

Jérôme Stoll, who has until now served as the company's executive vice president, Chief Performance Officer and director of sales and marketing, is stepping up to serve as the division's president, all the while maintaining his existing roles. Alongside him Cyril Abiteboul has been named Managing Director of Renault Sport F1, having previously served as its Development Director and Executive Director before taking over the Caterham F1 Team prior to its recent sale and his dismissal.

We'll have to wait and see whether the shift in leadership will help Renault get its engines up to speed for next season, because if it can't, it may find its four current customer teams (Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Lotus and Caterham) looking elsewhere for motivation.

Appointments at Renault Sport F1

The Renault Group regretfully announces the departure of Mr. Jean-Michel Jalinier, President and Managing Director of Renault Sport F1 for personal reasons.

From July 3, Renault Sport F1's new President will be Mr. Jérôme Stoll who will take on the role in addition to his current responsibilities as Chief Performance Officer and EVP Sales and Marketing.

Mr. Cyril Abiteboul has been appointed to fill the newly-created position of Managing Director of Renault Sport F1, reporting to Mr. Jérôme Stoll.

Jean-Michel Jalinier is a graduate of France's Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts et Metiers, with doctorates in mechanical engineering and science. He joined Renault in 1985 and has held different positions within the Group, notably at the factories in Cleon and Flins. He became General Manager of the Group's cooperation with General Motors and was the Trafic Programme Manager for the LCV Division in 1996, before becoming the General Manager of Renault Russia in 2003, then President of Renault Brazil in 2009. Jean-Michel Jalinier was named Chairman and Managing Director of Renault F1 en 2012, reporting directly to Renault's President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn.

Cyril Abiteboul was born on October 14, 1977 and is a graduate of the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble. He joined Renault in 2001 and was named Development Director of Renault F1 Team in 2007, before becoming Executive Director in 2010. In September 2012, Cyril Abiteboul moved to the Formula 1 team Caterham as General Manager.

By Noah Joseph