Renault to End F1 Engine Production While Committing to Alpine Team

Posted : 04 October 2024

Renault announced plans to discontinue its Formula One engine production after the upcoming season due to financial considerations, yet the company’s Alpine team remains a "family jewel" that is not up for sale, according to chief executive Luca de Meo.

In an interview with L'Equipe, de Meo outlined the strategy for Alpine, which will shift to using a power unit from another manufacturer, likely Mercedes, starting in 2026. This decision marks the end of nearly 50 years of Renault’s involvement in F1 engine production, during which the manufacturer powered teams such as Williams, Benetton, and Red Bull to a total of 12 constructors' championships.

De Meo explained that Renault's annual spending on engine production at the Viry-Chatillon facility is estimated between €200-250 million ($220.5-275.7 million), whereas acquiring an engine from another manufacturer would cost significantly less, at under $20 million.

He noted that Renault faces challenges due to its chassis and engine facilities being located in different countries, with the team itself based in Enstone, England. This separation has made it difficult for the organization to operate cohesively, leading de Meo to consider regrouping operations, albeit recognizing the complexities involved.

Former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore has been brought back to enhance the F1 project rather than to facilitate a sale, de Meo clarified. He dismissed rumors that Briatore’s return was linked to an impending change in ownership, stating, "It's completely false."

De Meo mentioned receiving frequent inquiries from financiers interested in entering F1, especially with anticipated increases in costs after 2026, but he affirmed his commitment to keeping the Alpine team intact, emphasizing the brand's significance within the elite realm of motorsport.

The Alpine team, which boasts high-profile investors like Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds and NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, has struggled recently, sitting ninth out of ten teams and losing valuable marketing opportunities.

De Meo indicated that continued poor performance could undermine the project entirely, stating that two more years of underachievement would be detrimental. He expressed optimism in new principal Oliver Oakes, predicting that he would become a prominent figure in the sport, and highlighted that fans tend to focus more on the team and its drivers rather than the engine itself.

Renault to End F1 Engine Production While Committing to Alpine Team

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