The announcement made on this last day of September shocked more than one. With the formalization of the cessation of production of its engine for Formula 1 in 2026, the Renault group is turning a page in its history, to the great regret of its Viry-Chatillon employees and Formula 1 fans, without forgetting other people involved. Working hand in hand with the French engine manufacturer for more than thirty years, Mecachrome sees this collaboration come to an abrupt end.
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Following meetings since then, Christian Cornille, CEO of this company specializing in aeronautics, aerospace and automobiles, gave us his time to discuss the decision of the diamond brand. “Seeing this streak end today gives us a lot of emotion and a feeling of heartbreak”he tells us. Around thirty of its employees dedicated themselves each year to the assembly, testing and delivery of the French manufacturer’s engines in Formula 1. The end of a common adventure of more than three decades, punctuated by the employees’ shared passion for the sport automobile.
An immediate drop in activity
The contract linking Alpine F1 Team to Mecachrome will end at the end of the 2025 season, when the French engine will be shelved. However, certain activities of the French company will cease “partly from the end of 2024”the date on which development of the engine which will equip the Alpine in Formula 1 next season will be completed. “Our assembly activities will end this year, in a very, very short time frame since, in a few days, we no longer have activities for a certain number of our employees. At the end of October, we will no longer have a role to play in this sector”tells us Christian Cornille.
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Only adjustments will be possible during the year. If the end of its collaboration with Alpine in Formula 1 represents a « choc » for Mecachrome, the latter will continue its follow-up with the French team for a few months: “We will support them to try to do their best in the 2025 championship with the current engine. »
A need to form new collaborations
Mecachrome had no say in the decision taken by the Renault group. The company will continue to collaborate with Alpine in other disciplines, notably in endurance, despite the loss of the important branch that constituted Formula 1.
“Alpine remains an important player in the automotive sector for us, because we do not only collaborate on the Formula 1 activity. Of course, the latter represented about half of our activities with this manufacturer. Alpine remains a key manufacturer in the world of endurance and motorsport in other competitions. We will try to maintain our relationship with him”insists the director of Mecachrome.
The end of this partnership also marks the end of Mecachrome’s exclusivity with Alpine F1 Team. The exclusive supplier of Formula 2 engines since 2005 and Formula 3 since 2013 wants to rely on its experience to attract new employees, particularly in Formula 1. The timing, however, is far from ideal. “It’s a universe for which we are passionate and for which we believe we can contribute something. We are aware that this announcement comes at the worst time for us to find opportunities, as all other engine manufacturers have already prepared. Unfortunately, it is a little late to find partnerships”deplores Christian Cornille.
What about Mecachrome employees?
The employees of Viry-Châtillon were powerless in the face of their management’s decision. It is the same for those of Mecachrome. If no new collaboration is looming in the coming weeks for the company, it will have to redirect its employees responsible for assembling Formula 1 engines to other activities, particularly in the aeronautical or defense sectors.
In a similar position, Alpine engineers have been informed that they will not have to respect a gardening period in the event of a departure to other teams, while some are already in contact with other manufacturers. Christian Cornille also expects a talent drain from Mecachrome: “It is obvious that some of our most talented employees have been chased away by a number of companies. These employees are inevitably asking questions and some will already leave, that’s for sure. »
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