Renault May Name Prost to Head F1 Team

[cosworth151]

Several sources are naming Alain Prost to be team principal Renault's F1 team. The French carmaker has already tapped Cyril Abiteboul to be managing director, and Jerome Stoll chairman.

Gian Carlo Minardi wrote on his website: "On the management of Renault, the rumors seem to point to Alain Prost as team principal."

The four time WDC had his own F1 team from 1997 to 2001. He is currently co-principal of Renault's Formula E team.

http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/renault-f1-may-be-targeting-alain-prost-be-team-principal

[J.Clark]

It makes sense in many ways.
I also think the pool has few from which to choose when looking for a winner.

[Scott]

I read somewhere (and posted here somewhere) that Prost was actually tipped to have more of a Lauda type role (executive thingy with a fancy title who is good for the odd camera shot and arrogance filled, sometimes controversial sound bite that an actual team principal would like to make, but is contractually forbidden from making), but not as actual Team Principal (the guy who makes decisions critical to team policy and direction, the one wearing the big pants).

[lkjohnson1950]

Even if he is France's most famous F1 figure, why would you pick a guy who's already failed once?

[Jericoke]

Even if he is France's most famous F1 figure, why would you pick a guy who's already failed once?

When someone isn't doing a job right, you replace them.  However, that's not to say that people don't learn and mature and become capable of doing that same job at some point in the future. 

I kind of like the idea of F1 teams adopting 'figure head' team leaders, like Lauda at Mercedes:  guys who have been involved in F1 and have plenty to say (both in the press and behind closed doors), but may not be the guys to make the crucial decisions.

Successful North American sports teams celebrate their traditions by keeping key players involved in their teams.  They generally call them 'ambassadors', but if you look in the management ranks of baseball and hockey, you'll notice plenty of former players are on the payroll.

[John S]

I think Prost can be a fine Team Principal at Enstone. After all a Principal sets the tone & direction, and pulls all the team together to achieve better results. The real strides towards winning races comes from the technical people, Newey at RBR, Allison at Ferrari, Symonds at Williams, etc etc.

Team Principals can be entrepreneurs but above all are facilitators and man managers. Yes Alain failed as an entrepreneurial team owner but I'm sure his failure had as much to do with financial pressures than his personnel management skills.

Running a team for someone else needs less of a dictatorial style than running your own show, Prost has always been a good team player and motivator so I see him more as a Toto Wolf or Arrivabene figure than a Frank or Ron type.

Renault really need a find a Ross Brawn or James Allison for their tech head much more than anyone else, a less aggressive Prost style leadership may achieve this better than an Eddie Jordan style character.

         

[Scott]

Primarily, a good team principal is a great personnel manager, and Prost does not bring any sort of management experience to the table.  Driving an F1 car 25 years ago doesn't give him any insight into running a team.  If Prost is involved, I am certain (even if he doesn't realize it) the strings will be pulled by someone else.  You're right about a Tech Director, but if I was the Renault board, I certainly wouldn't throw the keys to Prost.

[Dare]

Primarily, a good team principal is a great personnel manager, and Prost does not bring any sort of management experience to the table.  Driving an F1 car 25 years ago doesn't give him any insight into running a team.  If Prost is involved, I am certain (even if he doesn't realize it) the strings will be pulled by someone else.  You're right about a Tech Director, but if I was the Renault board, I certainly wouldn't throw the keys to Prost.

Bring back Flav....he's a proven winner and a great charactor as well

[Irisado]

Even if he is France's most famous F1 figure, why would you pick a guy who's already failed once?

That failure went well beyond Alain Prost.  You'd have to look at the role of French sponsors, the French automotive industry, and the engines Peugeot supplied the team with before pointing the finger of blame for the demise of the old Ligier team solely at Prost.