Jerome Stoll, who led Renault’s return to Formula One in 2016, will step down as president of Renault Sport Racing after five years.
Renault did not announce a replacement for the 66-year-old Stoll, who had been set to retire at the end of 2018 but agreed to stay on after Thierry Koskas left Renault before he could take up the position.
Stoll was a veteran executive at Renault when he was named to lead racing operations in 2015. He began his Renault career at the company's former R.V.I. heavy truck division in 1980 before moving to finance, automation and purchasing. He was named chief performance officer in September 2013, adding that title to his role as Renault executive vice president for sales and marketing, a position he had held since 2009.
Renault had its best season this year since returning to the sport as a factory team under Stoll, with three podium finishes from drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon. Ricciardo was fifth and Ocon 12th in driver standings.
Renault had left the sport in 2010.
“His experience and expertise, acquired during his career at Renault, have been key assets in the structuring and progression of our F1 team,” Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo said about Stoll in a statement.
Next year, the team will race as Alpine, and it has re-signed Fernando Alonso, who won titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006. Renault is also planning a return to endurance racing.
"Taking up the challenge of rebuilding a Formula 1 team is tough; it takes time, commitment and unfailing determination,” Stoll said in a statement. “A first step has been taken with a team and drivers that we can now see on the podium. I appreciate the privilege of being able to be part of all these changes and all our progress.
“Motorsport, and even more so Formula 1, is above all a human adventure, encounters, bonds that are forged, joys, disappointments and invaluable rewards,” he continued.
Renault Sport also participated in the Formula E electric series, winning three constructors titles and one drivers championship. It also hosts three spec-racing series: The Clio Cup and Clio Trophy, and the Formula Renault open-wheel series.
Stoll was named an Automotive News Europe Eurostar in 2015 for Renault’s outstanding sales performance.
