Former pillar of the Renault Sport team during the glorious Williams and Benetton eras, engineer Denis Chevrier spoke in the columns of “L’Equipe” on the end of the engine program in Formula 1.
After having experienced the French manufacturer’s epic journey from the legendary V6 turbo engine to the naturally aspirated V10 and up to the V8 of the last world titles with Red Bull, Chevrier was a key player at Viry-Châtillon.
Dismissed at the end of 2009, he then collaborated with the FIA and the ACO on the revival of endurance and therefore remains very aware of the evolution of motorsport on various fronts.
On the sidelines of the announcement by Renault of the renunciation of continuing the engine activity in Formula 1, he testifies by protesting the attitude of the brand which he has served for a long time, he who has a diamond engraved on his heart.
Failed transition to hybrid
“Alpine wants to make F1 cheap, that’s what they always wanted to do, he regrets in
The team, the newspaper where his wife Anne Giuntini worked for a long time (photo of the couple above). This is why they have not succeeded in the transition to hybrid engines, unlike other competitors, due to lack of sufficient resources.”
“They found themselves behind and it was the start of a period where Viry’s engines struggled to shine,
continues the engine manufacturer. It is the unfortunate demonstration that if we do not want to put in the means, after a while, we cannot live on the past, on the dynamic that has begun, and little by little the ship loses its speed.”
Sentiment d’injustice
“There was a period of success, and managers wanted to do as well for less money, but in such a cutting-edge environment of technological excellence, this is not possible, he adds. I feel a feeling of injustice. I think the engine is the victim of a cabal by the chassis team in England who hid their deficiencies and their inability to design cars as good as the others by finding someone responsible.
“By sowing and regularly watering the denigration of this engine, it was all the easier as this engine no longer fitted other chassis, which is very dangerous for an engine manufacturer,
he concludes. No doubt this engine is not the best on the board, but the decision that was taken is the opposite of that a boss who aims for excellence with his company should make. Furthermore, in a motor sport, if there is one element on which a manufacturer must rely the most to communicate and promote its road models, it is the engine.
