Former Renault F1 chief Abiteboul reveals new motorsport role
Former Renault Formula 1 team boss Cyril Abiteboul has revealed his next steps in motorsport following his surprise departure from the French car manufacturer earlier this year.
Abiteboul left Renault ahead of its rebranding as Alpine, having played a key role in the restructuring and revamping of the operation.
The Enstone-based outfit elected not to directly replace him and instead installed a management structure that has no set team principal.
After several months away from the spotlight, Abiteboul has now been appointed as a motorsport advisor to the engineering company Mecachrome.
The Mecachrome company has a long history in motorsport, having worked for decades with the Renault F1 operation.
This season the company is manufacturing a number of significant components for the Renault power unit that Alpine F1 uses. Its engines are also used in F2 and F3.
Abiteboul’s role will be to propose strategic options for the medium term development of Mecachrome’s business in motorsport.
Alain Prost, Renault F1 Team Non-Executive Director with Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport F1 Managing Director
Photo by: Renault Sport
Christian Cornille, CEO of Mecachrome, said: “We are proud that Cyril can provide his support and expertise to the teams of the group in this activity, which since 1983 has supported prestigious brands in the largest categories of motorsport, F1, F2, F3, endurance, rally.
“Mecachrome group have to understand the trends and opportunities of this sector and make them consistent with the Group's objectives and the transformation undertaken in its other businesses.”
Abiteboul will also be joining early-stage venture capital firm HCVC as a venture partner in its next fund aimed in hardtech.
He will use his experience in the automotive and motorsport worlds to help HCVC as it invests in new companies in the mobility sector.
“I’m quite excited to bring my experience of sourcing and developing new technologies as well as innovative practices to the next generation of founders and inventors,” said Abiteboul.
“I’m also thrilled to be joining one of the most exciting venture capital firms investing in breakthrough technologies.”
HCVC has already invested in more than 40 companies in Europe and the United States.
Founder and managing partner Alexis Houssou commented: “We’re very proud to welcome Cyril to our team and can’t wait to work with him to support founders in building the future of mobility.
“Cyril is not just an engineer at heart but also someone with world-class experience in fields that are extremely relevant to HCVC and our portfolio companies.”
Related video
Leclerc: Portimao qualifying shows I have a lot to learn
Williams recruitment drive part of Dorilton's "plan to innovate"
Las Vegas approves plan to shut Strip for F1 race until 2032
Officials in Las Vegas have approved a plan to shut the Strip for the Formula 1 grand prix for the next 10 years as they eye a “lifetime in partnership.”
Porsche boss “as surprised as anyone” over Gulf-Williams F1 social media frenzy
Porsche’s head of motorsport Thomas Laudenbach found it “funny” that streamlining its Instagram channels caused a Formula 1 social media speculation frenzy last month.
Why Albon won't be "throwing around laptops" to gain a 2023 F1 edge
OPINION: At the Williams 2023 Formula 1 season launch, Alex Albon’s easy-going nature was again a point of focus. But does being “too nice” really matter in modern F1? Albon’s own expressions put that in an intriguing new light
Why Alfa Romeo has kept its blade roll hoop on 2023 F1 car
The Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team has retained its unique blade roll hoop for the C43 but designed it to withstand load tests that the FIA will introduce in 2024.
Why Albon won't be "throwing around laptops" to gain a 2023 F1 edge
OPINION: At the Williams 2023 Formula 1 season launch, Alex Albon’s easy-going nature was again a point of focus. But does being “too nice” really matter in modern F1? Albon’s own expressions put that in an intriguing new light
How the last Sauber-built Alfa offers F1 2023 evolution clues
Alfa Romeo has become the first Formula 1 team to reveal a new car for 2023, in addition to a fresh livery. This offered a first look at some of the understated changes produced by the revised regulations, along with points of convergence in the second year of the ground effect rules
The pioneering F1 car that preceded Lotus’s terminal decline
In the hands of Ayrton Senna the actively suspended 99T would be the last F1 race-winning Lotus but, as STUART CODLING reveals, it was a complicated machine that caused more problems than it solved
How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1
Formula 1’s transformation into a global sport meant the gradual extinction for a small team determined to stay true to its low-budget roots. But Tyrrell would eventually be reborn as a world-beating outfit again, explains MAURICE HAMILTON, albeit in different colours…
Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver
Many doubted Lewis Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes for the 2013 Formula 1 season. But the journey he’s been on since has taken the Briton to new heights - and to a further six world championship titles
Why new look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era
OPINION: With teams outside the top three having struggled in Formula 1 in recent seasons, the rules changes introduced in 2022 should have more of an impact this season. How well Haas does, as the poster child for the kind of team that F1 wanted to be able to challenge at the front, is crucial
The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff
OPINION: Although the central building blocks for Mercedes’ recent, long-lasting Formula 1 success were installed before he joined the team, Toto Wolff has been instrumental in ensuring it maximised its finally-realised potential after years of underachievement. The 10-year anniversary of Wolff joining Mercedes marks the perfect time to assess his work
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Alpine’s signing of Pierre Gasly alongside Esteban Ocon revives memories of a famous all-French line-up, albeit in the red of Ferrari, for BEN EDWARDS. Can the former AlphaTauri man's arrival help the French team on its path back to winning ways in a tribute act to the Prancing Horse's title-winning 1983?
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.