Renault will be rebranded as Alpine F1 team in 2021 and will also see the team race in an entirely new colour scheme from next season.
The news comes following the appointment of new Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo earlier this year. De Meo has been the figurehead for a raft of changes in the wider Renault Group, including the growth and expansion of the Alpine brand.
On the eve of the Italian Grand Prix, the team officially announced the change in team name and confirmed it will do away with its synonymous yellow livery design and will run in a design inspired by the Tricolore of the French National flag.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo announced earlier in the year he will be moving to McLaren for 2021 and thus paved the way for the return of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso to the team with whom he claimed titles with back in 2005 and ’06.
“It’s a big change because Renault has been around for 43 years,” said de Meo.
“[The Renault name] will stay on the car but as an engine provider, so it will be visible.
“We will use F1 as a platform to market a brand that we want to develop in the house.
“Even if Renault is a glorious brand, the fit of Alpine in the F1 world will be even better.”
Alpine aren’t entirely new to the motorsport world. The sportscar marque has claimed victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and have a storied career in rallying. Alpine is also involved in the World Endurance Championship with LMP2 via the Signatech Alpine team.
The Renault team have committed to F1 until at least 2025 following their allegiance to the Concorde Agreement.
The final race of the yellow Renault machine is slated to be the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 13.
