Abiteboul was somewhat of a surprise hire by Hyundai, as the Frenchman had previously made his mark in Formula 1 as Renault’s team boss. In less than two seasons, he has demonstrated his leadership at the helm of Hyundai, despite venturing into unfamiliar territory.
Estonian star Ott Tänak returned to Hyundai’s lineup this season. Tänak had left Hyundai at the end of the 2022 season, partly due to the team’s lack of strong leadership.
According to Tänak, things have changed significantly. The Estonian appreciates that Abiteboul has brought with him a wealth of experience.
“He has worked in very large organizations, which helps in managing people differently. I think he’s done a great job so far,” Tänak said in an interview with his partner VivatBet.
However, Tänak also pointed out Abiteboul’s Achilles’ heel.
“Perhaps his weakest point is that he lacks direct experience in rallying itself, which comes with its own unique and specific challenges. So, he has to rely quite a bit on the people around him,” Tänak noted.
Abiteboul has quickly immersed himself in the sport, and he hasn’t been afraid to speak his mind when discussing rallying’s issues and its future. His leadership appears to have been straightforward within the team as well.
“Overall, it’s about how you interact with people, manage the team, and drive progress and development. Ultimately, the same idea applies to all sports: a team’s spirit needs to be strong, and you have to stay focused,” Tänak explained.
Under Abiteboul’s leadership, Hyundai has come close to hitting the jackpot in the WRC this season. The team’s drivers, Thierry Neuville and Tänak, currently occupy the top two positions in the drivers’ championship. Additionally, Hyundai has pulled 35 points ahead of Toyota in the manufacturers’ championship battle.
Check out the WRC standings here.
Hyundai has never before won the drivers’ world championship. So far, they have claimed two manufacturers’ titles, in 2019 and 2020.
