Renault will be “staying in Formula 1 for a long time” with the Alpine team, new CEO Francois Provost said in an interview with French broadcaster Canal+.

In his third month in charge of Renault, Provost sought to lessen speculation about the team’s commitment to F1 ahead of the team abandoning its own power unit in favor of a Mercedes partnership beginning next year.

Provost appeared at an F1 paddock for the first time last weekend at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

“My visit aims mainly to reaffirm we’re staying in Formula 1,” Provost said in the interview.

He touted the recent contract extension that Pierre Gasly, Alpine’s top driver, received, tying the 29-year-old Frenchman to the team through 2028. Steve Nielsen also joined Alpine as managing director last week, joining executive adviser Flavio Briatore.

“That’s also a very positive sign,” Provost said. “We are entering a new era, which will be a performance era but above all a stability era. Pierre’s commitment demonstrates this well.

“Steve’s appointment as managing director is a good example, too. So, you see, we’ve made many steps forward.”

Gasly said last week when his new contract was announced, “As a Frenchman, especially, driving for a French car company, makes me feel very proud. Since I joined in 2023, I have always felt that this team is the right place to be for the future.”

Alpine sit in last place, 10th, in the current F1 constructor standings. Gasly is 14th in the driver standings after coming in 16th in Italy. The drivers of Alpine’s other car, Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan, occupy the final two spots in the standings and are the only two drivers with no points this year.

–Field Level Media