Cyril Abiteboul, a prestigious boss but new to the WRC

First steps at Renault

Graduated from the National School of Electrochemistry and Electrometallurgy of Grenoble (Isère) in 2001, Cyril Abiteboul quickly began his career in the world of motorsport by joining Renault. Within the Losange, the Francilien occupies various positions, notably in the chassis department of the team F1 based in enstone (UK)

Things accelerated in 2007 for Cyril Abiteboul who was first promoted to development director before becoming executive director three years later. Immediately, he crossed the Channel to settle in Viry-Châtillon (Essonne) where he was appointed deputy general manager.

2012, Renault's first departure

At Caterham, Cyril Abiteboul discovers the joys of managing an F1 team. ©DPPI/JM Le Meur

Powered for a season by Renault, the Caterham team (Team Lotus until 2011) uses the services of Cyril Abiteboul. The French manager thus finds himself propelled to the position of principal team of the English team, succeeding in September Tony Fernandes, one of the pillars at the origin of the project.

Despite new drivers in 2013 at Caterham (Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde replacing Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov), Cyril Abiteboul did not experience the expected success. Under his tutelage, Caterham did not score a single point and the Habs left in July 2014 when the new bosses decided to replace him with former Dutch F1 driver Christijan Albers.

Cyril Abiteboul returns home

For Renault's return to F1, Cyril Abiteboul was at the heart of the project. ©DPPI/F. Le Floc’h

It doesn't take long for Abiteboul to bounce back. And what better place to find refuge than your old home? Two months after his departure from the English structure, the French engineer returned to Renault as head of the company's general strategy and the management of its mission as an engine manufacturer for partner teams, including Red Bull is the most important.

Le Losange formalized its return as a team-builder in 2016 after buying Lotus (and its mountain of debt) for a symbolic 1 euro. Abiteboul is appointed general manager of Renault Sport Racing while Frédéric Vasseur manages the sportsman as team principal. A position which falls to the first named after the departure of the second at the end of the 2016 campaign.

Cyril Abiteboul returned to this position the following year after the departure of his counterpart. With a double hat on his head, the Ile-de-France resident is doing his best to turn Renault around. He notably succeeded in convincing Daniel Ricciardo, then at the top of his art with Red Bull Racing, to attempt the adventure in yellow-and-black starting in the 2019 season.

Cyril Abiteboul and Daniel Ricciardo had big ambitions… ©DPPI/A. Vincent

To take his team to the next level, the Frenchman breaks the bank to secure the services of the Australian. In Viry-Châtillon as in Enstone, hope is enormous. Unfortunately, the relationship between Renault and Daniel Ricciardo will not bear the expected fruits.

Renault does not yet have the level to compete regularly at the front and Ricciardo's first campaign in the French clan leaves a taste of unfinished business. At the start of 2020, when the Covid pandemic brought the world to a standstill and Renault's future in F1 was not assured, Ricciardo chose to announce his future departure for McLaren. A career choice that deeply hurt Abiteboul.

Paradoxically, Ricciardo will have an excellent 2020 season, helped by a Renault making clear progress. The Australian scored two podiums (Nürburgring and Imola), and finished 5th in the Drivers' standings.

Beginning of the end in F1 and new adventure

At the end of 2020, the Renault Group's ambitions took a completely different turn. Under the supervision of its new general director, Luca de Meo, the firm decides to change the identity of its F1 team by renaming it Alpine F1 Team. No more yellow and black, make way for French blue. Abitebou, who had supervised the brand for several months, will no longer be involved. At the start of 2021, he abruptly and to everyone's surprise left Renault where he spent more than 20 years. 

Replaced by Laurent Rossi as general manager ofAlpine On January 11, 2021, the Ile-de-France native left the world of Formula 1 for good but once again did not take long to bounce back. In May, Abiteboul integrates the Mecachrome teams, engine manufacturer F2 et F3, as advisor for competition activities. Its mission was to “ propose strategic options for the medium-term development of the group's activities in motorsport »

Some months later, he joins the ranks of the HCVC investment fund, then it is named CEO of CDK Technologies, l’un des plus gros chantiers de la course au large basés à Port-la-Forêt (Finistère), en mars 2022. Ces dernières semaines, son nom avait commencé à circuler du côte de Hyundai, en manque d’un leadership clair pour son programme en WRC.

Time to return to motorsport

Cyril Abiteboul in his new colors. ©Hyundai

Looking for a fixed main team for more than a year and the ouster of Andrea Adamo, Hyundai Motorsport ended up convincing Abiteboul to take on a challenge that was unprecedented for this Formula 1 specialist. negotiations which seem to have lasted longer than expected, the two parties agreed that the Frenchman would take command of the South Korean ship.

Expected on the ground shortly since the start of the 2023 season takes place at Monte-Carlo in just a few days (January 19-22), Abiteboul has a very specific objective: to bring Hyundai the Drivers' crown which is refused at the Korean brand since its arrival in the WRC in 2014.

« I am relishing the opportunity to join Hyundai Motorsport as Team Principal from 2023, did he declare. In motorsport, as in the rest of its activities, the Hyundai brand is cautiously building its leadership.

I am excited to be a part of it, managing the WRC and Customer Racing programs, where the team has already proven itself to be a strong contender. I look forward to immersing myself in the rally community and discovering more about this spectacular sport. Hyundai provided me with all its support to ensure a smooth transition to this role. I can't wait to get started. »

Abiteboul sera rapidement plongé dans le bain. À peine nommé, il fait face à un sacré obstacle avec la classique monégasque. Si une défaite face à Toyota lui sera sûrement pardonnée tant le timing est serré, le Français va rapidement devoir montrer qu’il est l’homme de la situation pour aider Hyundai à retrouver les sommets, et que ses connaissances de la F1 lui permettront de briller en WRC.

It's up to him.

ALSO READ > Cyril Abiteboul appointed director of Hyundai Motorsport